New IMCOM leadership team takes charge of base operations at sites in Romania, Bulgaria

By Mr. Michael K Beaton (IMCOM Europe)July 13, 2018

new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today:New IMCOM leaders at Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu Romania, Novo Selo Training Area
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today: Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria. Lt. Col. Ch... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today:New IMCOM leaders at Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu Romania, Novo Selo Training Area
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today: Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria. Lt. Col. Ch... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today:New IMCOM leaders at Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu Romania, Novo Selo Training Area
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today: Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria. Lt. Col. Ch... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today:New IMCOM leaders at Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu Romania, Novo Selo Training Area
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today: Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria. Lt. Col. Ch... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe today:New IMCOM leaders at Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu Romania, Novo Selo Training Area
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CAMP MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A new leader assumed the role of managing base operations for two permanent forward operating sites in Eastern Europe, Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA), in Bulgaria.

Lt. Col. Christopher M. Marquez accepted the colors and assumed command from departing commander Lt. Col. Tracey E. Smith, during a ceremony July 12, 2018, at Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania.

Command Sgt. Maj. Ernest S. Peterson also passed his authority to Command Sgt. Maj. Matakiah Fogle Jr. at a subsequent Change of Responsibility ceremony. The ceremonies made official the team's role of managing base operations for Camp MK in Romania and the NSTA in Bulgaria.

Director IMCOM-Europe Mr. Michael D. Formica and Col. Benjamin C. Jones, commander U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach (USAG Ansbach), were present to witness the ceremonies.

USAG Ansbach assumed responsibility of base operations at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base and the Novo Selo Training Area as part of Eastern European Site Support in June 2016. The U.S. military's partnership with Romanian and Bulgarian forces can be traced back to shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. It wasn't until after the creation of what was originally called the Eastern European Task Force in 2004 -- later known as Task Force East and now the Black Sea Area Support Team -- that U.S. Army Europe moved ahead with plans to construct facilities for military personnel and equipment for unit rotations.

Managing base operations, which is at the core of IMCOM's mission, means integrating and delivering a host of necessary components that make an installation run safely and smoothly and that enable Soldiers and units to operate effectively. These include infrastructure, physical security, electricity, water, waste, the maintenance of facilities, roads and grounds, and the management of Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities such as fitness centers. Doing so, according to IMCOM's mission statement, is what enables readiness -- which is the Army's top priority.

The U.S. military's partnership with Romanian and Bulgarian forces can be traced back to shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. It wasn't until after the creation of what was originally called the Eastern European Task Force in 2004 -- later known as Task Force East and now the Black Sea Area Support Team -- that U.S. Army Europe moved ahead with plans to construct facilities for military personnel and equipment for unit rotations.

Serving as command and control of the IMCOM elements at MK and NSTA is U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, which has been leading the transition of base operations responsibilities to the growing staffs at both sites since 2016.

The capability to host rotational troops for their participation in multinational exercises has since expanded. IMCOM-Europe partners with USAREUR and local governments to provide long-term base operations support at MK and NSTA.

Marquez and Fogle are now leading that effort on the ground at these enduring installations.

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNITY IN ANSBACH

The U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach (USAG Ansbach) Military Community is located in the Franconian region of Bavaria and is spread across six sites and nine kasernes dispersed around the city of Ansbach and the village of Illesheim: Barton Barracks, Bismarck Kaserne, Bleidorn Kaserne, Franken Kaserne, Katterbach Kaserne, Oberdachstetten Training Area, Shipton Kaserne, Storck Barracks, and Urlas Kaserne. Today, Ansbach is the home of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (12th CAB), the community's largest tenant unit. USAG Ansbach continues its mission of streamlining base support operations management, allowing tactical commanders to concentrate on their essential training and missions. The garrison takes pride in its support to more than 6,000 Soldiers, civilians and family members working and living within the USAG Ansbach area as well as U.S. and multinational forces in Camp Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria.

To learn more about the people and facilities of the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach (USAG Ansbach) and the people they support in Ansbach, Katterbach and Illesheim, visit the community website at www.ansbach.army.mil

Related Links:

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Homepage

Black Sea Area Support Team on Facebook

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach on Facebook

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach on Flickr