CONSTANTA, Romania - Professional staff members from the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense visited Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Air Base, July 22, 2016 to review U.S. Army investments here.
The delegation consisted of Committee staff members Colleen Gaydos and Will Todd, in addition to Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, Deputy Commanding General Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, and assorted congressional and military staff members.
Upon arrival the delegation was briefed on the mission of the Black Sea Area Support Team (BSAST), as well as the role it plays in Operation Atlantic Resolve. The BSAST provides facility and line support operations at MK and other training bases in Romania and Bulgaria in support of transit, contingency and training operations.
After the brief, the delegation toured the base and reviewed building projects that will enhance the capabilities of the base and the units stationed at MK to better conduct missions.
One of the sites the delegation reviewed was a planned construction site for a rail spur and ramp on base.
"Construction is scheduled to start early next year, and should take about 400 days to complete," said Col. Lee Ellis, commander, BSAST. "When it is finished it will allow us to load a vehicle from here and send it to the port or where ever it needs to go. One of Lt. Gen. Hodges' mantras is, 'how fast can we load equipment?' Well with this rail spur we will be able to load equipment 10 times faster."
Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges is the commanding general, U.S. Army Europe.
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