NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - Senior staff of the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard meet with Nikolay Nankov Nenchev, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria to discuss increasing current expansion of Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016.
This meeting was led by Maj. William English and Maj. Anthony Glandorf, two senior military engineers with the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard.
For Maj. English and Maj. Glandorf, this marks the second year in a row that they found themselves over 5,000 miles away from their Middle Tennessee homes in rural Bulgaria managing the multi-national, multi-million, multi-year military construction project known as Operation Resolute Castle.
Operation Resolute Castle, a division of the larger Operation Atlantic Resolve, is part of NATO and the United States of America's latest push to increase security in Eastern Europe. Many operations under Atlantic Resolve - Operation Dragoon Ride, Operation Sarmis, Operation Anakonda - accomplish this by focusing on interoperability exercises amongst foreign militaries and often led by the United States Armed Forces.
Operation Resolute Castle is different. Instead of focusing on interoperability exercises, it focuses on building up Eastern Europe infrastructure through military construction on bases in Hungary, Estonia, Romania, and Bulgaria. In the process, it presents a prime opportunity for cross-training - the military term for working alongside an ally to compare notes in order to improve capabilities - amongst all branches of the United States Armed Services and the militaries of the host nations.
The operation is big. Geographically, it spans across Hungary, Romania, Estonia, and Bulgaria. Organizationally, it involves the United States Active Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard, the United States Navy, and host nation militaries. Conceptually, it seeks to increase security throughout the region by strengthening political relationships and by the expansion and improvement of facilities throughout the region.
And it's working.
For evidence, look no further than the recent visit by Nikolay Nankov Nenchev, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria.
On Memorial Day, May 30, 2016, Minister Nenchev traveled to Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria to meet with Maj. English, Maj. Glandorf, and other senior leaders of the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard.
Minister Nenchev, as the Minister of Defense for the Republic of Bulgaria, is the leader and organizer of the country's defense strategy. He has held this position since 2014. His education and experience - degrees in law, political science, and international relations, as well as 5 years as chairman of the Agrarian National Union - prepare him for the job.
Maj. Glandorf, plans officer in charge of the 194th Engineer Brigade, is tasked with creation and implementation of operational plans for Resolute Castle. He was impressed with the meeting and saw it as a signal that the Tennessee Army National Guard is making the most of their opportunity.
"It was a great pleasure to brief the minister on the partnership projects the 194th is conducting at Novo Selo Training Area. Taking the time to meet with our soldiers and show his appreciation is a great morale booster and indicates the importance of this mission to our European partners and the resolve that our NATO allies have in working together," stated Maj. Glandorf.
Maj. English, executive officer of the 230th Engineer Battalion, is in charge of making sure the soldiers of his unit rise to the task and complete the projects assigned to them.
"We're doing everything we can to improve military bases in Bulgaria under the guidance of Minister Nenchev in order to make this an enduring partnership. These construction projects solidify the partnership between the Tennessee Army National Guard and the Republic of Bulgaria."
Under Maj. English, the 194th Engineer Brigade is working very hard to meet their goals.
"We are here working on fresh projects. We are continuing to maintain and improve the projects from last year while doing the [ammunition holding area] and maneuver lanes" stated Maj. English. Maj. English is grateful to have the opportunity, saying "It was truly an honor and a pleasure to be a part of the group that was briefing Minister Nenchev. all of the work we are doing under this bases falls under his prevue. This was opportunity to show him our progress."
The partnership between the Tennessee Army National Guard and Bulgaria stretches back over 20 years. Since the institution of the National Guard State Partnership Program in 1993, the Tennessee Army National Guard and Bulgaria have conducted countless joint exercises and built lasting relationships.
Colonel James W. Crowhurst, United States Air Force, is the Senior Defense Official for Bulgaria, and has served as an important liaison for this partnership. He has held this position for two years and brings 25 years of experience as a pilot and a pentagon official. Col. Crowhurst has worked with Minister Nenchev regarding the planning and implementation of Resolute Castle for the past two years. With regard to the impact of Resolute Castle on the region, Col. Crowhurst stated that "Minister Nenchev values the stability and security that it provides in Bulgaria right now. It is very meaningful, both on a personal and on a strategic level."
Col. Crowhurst added that in the future, Resolute Castle "will continue to be a great way for the Tennessee state partnership to have a meaningful impact not only for Europe and Bulgaria, but for larger U.S. objectives" and contributes to "trust and confidence, leading to a more and more capable ally for the United States."
"Thanks and appreciation to the 194th team, who put together a meaningful engagement on a pretty special day," stated Col. Crowhurst.
This historic partnership is why the Tennessee Army National Guard has led this project for years, something normally outside the scope of the role of a normal unit in the Army National Guard. The Tennessee Army National Guard has made the most of this opportunity, rising to the occasion and delivering big results.
With hope, the hard work from Service members like Col. Crowhurst, Maj. English and Maj. Glandorf and the strong relationships with political leaders like Minister Nenchev will equal strong regional peace for years to come.
What better way to celebrate Memorial Day than by seeing these senior leaders meeting with the goal of maintaining peace.
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