MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- United States Army soldiers with 10th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, home station Fort Stewart, Georgia, active duty, complete a construction project for Operation Resolute Castle 16 under the command of the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania.
The 10th Engineer Battalion was tasked with improving the air base in order to increase its potential as a logistics and transportation hub for Eastern Europe.
Stationed in Fort Stewart, Georgia, the 10th Engineer Battalion initially traveled to Germany, where they spent several weeks completing training and planning for the project. Once construction plans were finalized, elements of the 10th Engineer Battalion traveled to Romania to work with UM 01877 Pantelimon, a Romanian Air Force military construction unit from Bucharest, Romania. The joint efforts of the U.S. Army and Romanian Air Force will allow for expansion of runways and installation of new buildings at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania.
Operation Resolute Castle 2016 is a component of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a multi-year NATO led operation focused on improving the strength of relationships between NATO and Eastern European countries. The 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard has held command over Operation Resolute Castle for the past two years. Resolute Castle provides the opportunity for the U.S. Army to train together with foreign nations in Eastern Europe, including Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Hungary. But these operations are not just an opportunity to train -- in addition to training with foreign militaries, the U.S. Army is using Operation Resolute Castle 2016 in order to devote a substantial amount of time, money, personnel, and equipment to the expansion of Eastern European military installations, including Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.
Expanding facilities in Eastern Europe is an investment by NATO, the U.S. Army, and foreign militaries. This investment is expected to produce big returns for regional stability, increased infrastructure, and boosted economic progress in Eastern Europe. Improving the facilities of Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base allows the opportunity for the air base to expand and become a logistics and mobility hub, perfectly matching it with the goals of Operation Resolute Castle 2016 and the U.S. Army.
Operations Resolute Castle and Atlantic Resolve are multi-year operations that stretch back several years and will likely continue in years to come. However, this year marked the first year the U.S. Army worked with UM 01877 Pantelimon, the military construction unit with the Romanian Air Force. It also marked the first year the U.S. Army worked to improve Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. Continued expansion of Operations Resolute Castle and Atlantic Resolve demonstrates continued emphasis by NATO and the United State of America to improving security and prosperity in the Eastern European region.
Joint operations such as Operation Resolute Castle 2016 provide an excellent opportunity for the U.S. Army to train with foreign military units they may not otherwise interact with. It also provides an opportunity to work with other branches of the United States Army, including the Tennessee Army National Guard, who have held command over Operation Resolute Castle for the past two years. Cross-training allows for both military services to share construction techniques and to improve expertise with equipment.
Captain Matthew Ryan, officer in charge of the 10th Engineer Battalion element, generates the construction plans as well as supervises the execution of the construction project. Cpt. Ryan brings an impressive resume to the table -- an education in engineering plus experience as a platoon leader of the U.S. Army's 62nd Engineer Company, 4th Engineer Battalion that including a deployment to Afghanistan as a route clearance patrol leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Cpt. Ryan used this experience to execute the U.S. Army's plans for the improvement of Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.
Captain Ryan was very impressed with the work of his Soldiers as well as very thankful for his opportunity to work with the Romanian Air Force, stating "The work done by the soldiers in the 10th Engineer Battalion on the construction site at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base has been outstanding. Partnering with the Romanian Air Force Engineers on the berm reduction not only allows us to support our allies but also strengthens the bond between the U.S. military and the Romanian military for future operations."
Private Tristan J. Barnes II is a U.S. Army soldier with the 10th Engineer Battalion and traveled to Germany and Romania in support of the U.S. Army's construction efforts. During Operation Resolute Caste 2016, Pvt. Barnes operated several pieces of heavy construction equipment, including a 20-ton dump truck, a heavy excavator, multiple forward bucket loaders, and a bulldozer.
"I had an outstanding experience at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. Working hand-in-hand with the Romanian engineers was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Pvt. Barnes. He went on to elaborate that he enjoyed the ability to contribute to Operation Resolute Castle 2016 and work with Service members in the Romanian Air Force.
The U.S. Army continues to plan further expansion of Operation Atlantic Resolve, giving service members like Cpt. Ryan and Pvt. Barnes opportunities to improve their skills, work with foreign militaries, and contribute to the peace and stability of Eastern Europe. This investment by the U.S. Army and NATO gives Eastern Europe an important boost to the improvement of its security and economy.
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