MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania -- Romanian Army Military Police assigned to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base conducted training with U.S. Army members of the 2-10 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade on March 8, 2017 at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania.
The training was held to practice air assault operations with the base's police force.
For most of the soldiers present it was the first opportunity to have trained together in a combined U.S.-Romanian environment, and for one participant it proved to be a most rewarding experience.
U.S. Army Capt. James Bates, the company commander of Bravo Company, 2-10 AHB and flight officer in charge of the mission spoke to the mood of many Americans present.
"We're very excited to continue this partnership and looking forward to future opportunities with these soldiers," he said.
The day's operations included the proper entering and exiting of three UH-60 Black Hawks used during the exercise. The soldiers then did a live version of the exercise via a short round trip to a nearby training field. The non-commissioned officer in charge of the Romanians on the mission, Master Sgt. (OR-8) Samir Seicamet, reflected on the significance of the training.
"For us at the air base this was a first. We're lucky to be able to participate in this event with our U.S. counterparts," he said.
This is the 2-10 AHB's first multinational mission in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO mission taking place across Europe to enhance the cooperative efforts of the U.S. and its Allies to deter aggression in Europe.
The exercise was the first time many of the Romanian participants set foot inside of a Black Hawk. It prepared them for future Operation Atlantic Resolve missions they'll conduct with their American colleagues, as well as help to build a state of camaraderie for both sides. Bates has high hopes for the future of the alliance.
"These relationships that were built between our American Soldiers and our Romanian soldiers are going to last," he said.
The exercise came to a close with the commemoration of International Women's Day. Flowers were presented to all of the women present during the training.
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U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51 country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.
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