ARAD, Romania - A relationship is defined as the way in which two or more people, groups, or countries talk to, behave toward, and interact with one another. The United States and Romania strengthened their own relationship throughout the past three days during Exercise Dragoon Crossing - Romania, Oct. 24-26, 2015.
The purpose of Dragoon Crossing - Romania is to enhance NATO interoperability, build good will and camaraderie with the local population of Romania and demonstrate the alliance's operational freedom of movement for a strong Europe.
The exercise began on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a convoy of tactical vehicles from the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stationed in Vilseck, Germany, crossing into Romania from Hungary. From that point, many Romanian citizens cheered and waved as the convoy passed their perspective cities, towns and villages.
Shortly after the convoy reached the Romanian Army base in Arad, the opening ceremony began that involved a formation with hundreds of U.S. and Romanian Soldiers and cadets. Key U.S. and Romanian Army leaders made statements about Exercise Dragoon Crossing - Romania and the importance of it.
"This is a very distinct exercise, involving not only land forces, air forces and naval divers, but also a multinational one involving Romanian Soldiers belonging to 18th Infantry Brigade, 10th Engineer Brigade and of course 4/2 CR from the U.S." said Lt. Gen. Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca, the chief of Romanian Army. "We feel like the U.S. is truly our allies, and I feel it is very important to share all the capabilities in order to achieve our objective of providing the common defense of NATO countries."
The following day was Romanian National Army Day, which has been celebrated every year on October 25, since 1959. The U.S. Army helped Romania celebrate this day by joining them in a static display of armed tactical vehicles in front of the City Hall building, Arad, to allow the citizens of Romania to view, take pictures, touch, and even sit inside them to see how the military vehicles work.
"I always wanted to see the U.S. Army equipment," said Nora Pop, from Cluj-Napoca. "My father always watches [American] war movies so I was interested in seeing how the U.S. Army equipment worked. I like it a lot."
The last day involved an extensive demonstration of the two armies working together as one to build a defense against the enemy by using strategic and tactical movements. The U.S. and Romanian Soldiers worked side-by-side, communicating, defending and building a means to be able to cross an obstacle, such as a river, to gain more ground for defense.
"The aim of the exercise was to improve our interoperability between the Romanian and U.S. Army and to show everyone our capabilities for crossing the bridges and working together," said Ciuca. "It was a very interesting exercise with outstanding results. I am very glad about the professionalism and the focused attention of all of the participants in this exercise."
At the conclusion of Exercise Dragoon Crossing-Romania, Ciuca presented the key U.S. and Romanian Army leaders with awards and gifts for their outstanding leadership capabilities and professionalism.
"One of the key things that allowed this tactical unit to do, was demonstrate the operational mobility that is inherent within the organic Striker Cavalry Squadron," said Lt. Col. Jonathan Due, a native of Houston, Texas, and commander of 4th Squadron. "This exercise also allowed this tactical unit to interact and foster the relationship with our allies, personally, professionally and tactically."
The U.S. and Romanian Soldiers will certainly remember this exercise as they have bonded a relationship even stronger than before. Camaraderie, friendships, espirit-de-corps, and a new found understanding of commitment and understanding had been built during Exercise Dragoon Crossing - Romania over the past three days in, and near Arad, Romania.
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