BALTI, Republic of Moldova - Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are participating in Exercise Common Effort with the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Poland, Romania, and the North Carolina Army National Guard here from Jul. 13 to Jul. 24, 2015.
During the combined exercise, Soldiers from all participating countries are training on a variety technical and tactical skills, including basic and advanced rifle marksmanship ranges, mortar system training, tactical radio operations and basic first aid training.
"Training with our Eastern European allies is important for improving relations and developing shared tactics," said U.S. ArmySpc. Stephanie Velez, a senior Satellite Communications Systems Operator with Charlie Company, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Abn. Bde. "The Moldovans have been very welcoming to the multinational partners and the training facilities are exceptional."
During the first week of the exercise, U.S. forces hosted familiarization classes on ranges on the M4 carbine, M9 pistol, and 120-mm mortar, while the Moldovan Army led training on the 12.7mm machine gun, the RPK 74 machine gun, and their own mortar system.
Moldovan Army veterans shared their experiences with exercise participants from the ongoing conflict and dispute over the breakaway region of Transnistria.
"The coalition building that is occurring between Soldiers of the combined forces is critical to successful partnerships in the future," said retired Moldovan Army Col. Leonid Carasiov, the first commander of the 1st Motorized Infantry Brigade following Moldovan independence from the Soviet Union.
Common Effort 15 continues with a culminating exercise to test the newly developed partnerships and their shared tactics, techniques and procedures.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, is the U.S. Army Contingency Force in Europe, providing ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility within 18 hours.
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