MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania -- As a Romanian infantry squad assaults an enemy position, a U.S. Army Soldier maneuvers alongside the formation.
As a U.S. tank platoon conducts annual services, a Romanian armor crewman assists with the maintenance.
What better way to learn from your Allies than to train with them?
Soldiers from Task Force "Fighting Eagles," 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and from the 284th Armor and 300th Mechanized Infantry battalions of the Romanian 282nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, were part of an exchange of senior noncommissioned officers for three days in an effort to share their tactics and expertise.
First Sgt. Ernest Ramirez, armor crewman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 8 Inf. Regt., has extensive experience on the M1A2 Abrams tank after multiple combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He took that knowledge to the 284th Armor Bn., where he watched combat formations of the Romanian TR-85 main battle tank and was impressed with their tactics.
"I am excited to put our tanks alongside theirs. We have much in common when it comes to tactics," said Ramirez.
He said he's looking forward to future shared training, particularly when Task Force Eagle's tank company, Company C, moves its tanks to Smardan Training Area for situational and field training exercises and ultimately a platoon live-fire exercise with the Romanians.
"There is so much respect between us. We really enjoyed training together and we are eager to continue," said Ramirez.
The 1st Bn. 8th Inf. Regt., is deployed to Romania and Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the U.S. Army's show of commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and partners. During the nine-month deployment, the task force will complete a series of bilateral and multilateral training engagements aimed at strengthening collective defense and cooperative security.
Sgt. 1st Class Everett Snellings, a cavalry scout platoon sergeant with HHC, spent three days with the 300th Mech. Inf. Bn., where he observed infantry squads conduct offensive operations.
During assessments, Snellings shared his experience from past deployments to Iraq in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.
"It was a good opportunity to train with Romanian soldiers. I noticed they use some of the same tactics, techniques and procedures that we use. That's great because common concepts greatly help our ability to conduct operations together," said Snellings.
Meanwhile, the Romanians sent two of their own to the U.S. task force.
Master Sgt. Andi Tinjala from 284th Armor Bn. helped perform maintenance on the Abrams tanks alongside the crewmen of Co. C.
"I really enjoyed working with my American counterparts. This was a great opportunity for me to see the differences being an noncommissioned officer in the Romanian Army and being one in the American Army," said Tinjala.
Similarly, Master Sgt. Paul Gafton of the 300th Mech. Inf. Bn observed squad live fires with Company B at Babadag Training Area, watching an Army infantry unit perform small-unit tactics. The scenario included movement to contact, road clearance of command- and wire-detonated improvised explosive devices. The squads also needed to clear an enemy bunker.
The NCO exchange marks the first in what is expected to be a series of operations as an effort of continuing interoperability development.
Maj. Michael Harrison, operations officer, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., is proud of the role the noncommissioned officers are playing to build relationships between U.S. and Romanian land forces.
"The competent leadership our NCOs display is a direct reflection of the words found in the 'Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer,'" said Harrison. "The NCOs are the backbone of our task force and the Army. Sharing the values, expertise and professionalism found in our NCOs is crucial in continuing to develop the strong Alliance with our host nation."
Social Sharing