MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania (Sept. 22, 2014) -- The Army's top leader stopped off at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania to meet with service members returning from Afghanistan during a visit to the small Romanian air base Saturday.
John McHugh, the Secretary of the Army, visited with team Mihail Kogalniceanu, known as MK, as a part of a multi-country trip throughout Eastern Europe.
Accompanied by Maj. Gen. John R. O'Connor, the commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command and lead administrator of the transit mission at MK, McHugh met with the personnel responsible for keeping flights on track, including airmen from the 780th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and Army military police working in customs.
"I'm greatly appreciative of the great work everyone is doing here at MK," said McHugh. "Their efforts are maximizing efficiency and achieving great value moving service members and equipment to and from theater."
The temporary air transit facility provides essential logistical, transportation, reintegration and morale and welfare services, accommodating the flow of American service members into and out of European and Central Asian operating areas through the end of 2014, or the completion of current missions.
Since the start of operations in February of this year, MK has transited more than 100,000 service members either into or out of Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - largely on C-17 aircraft under the command of the Air Force's 780th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's ground support elements.
As a part of his trip, McHugh met with the various leadership of MK and discussed the various challenges and opportunities of the mission.
While the largest and best-known function of MK is the passenger transit mission, McHugh saw first-hand the broad spectrum of operations the professionals of MK conduct and support.
"While the transit center is a large part of the operation here, it's not the only thing MK has to offer," said O'Connor. "It's also allowing us to expand our training opportunities to beyond Germany as well as contribute to our continuing commitment to NATO and the overall Eastern European strategy."
Seeing how transiting warfighters get back home was important part of McHugh's visit, he said as he toured the newly-constructed transit facilities and met with returning service members.
"Thank you all on completing such an important mission," McHugh told a group of more than 300 returning Soldiers. "Godspeed on a safe trip home."
Related Links:
Secretary of the Army John McHugh
STAND-TO!: Transit Center Operations in Romania
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