Engineers pave way for Resolute Castle 19

CINCU, Romania -- U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers, along with the Romanian Land Forces, held an opening ceremony for Resolute Castle 2019, April 24 at the Joint National Training Center.

Resolute Castle is a training exercise for U.S. Army and NATO engineers that supports Atlantic Resolve. It is a multinational, joint exercise with real-world outputs of completed construction projects that enhance training capabilities in various areas of NATOs eastern member states.

"We build interoperability by training together in a multinational environment and becoming more familiar with each other's technology and techniques," said. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Miyako Schanely, commanding general of 416th Theater Engineer Command.

Throughout the six-month exercise, Army National Guard engineering units from Alaska, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia will contribute to ongoing projects at the Cincu, Romania sites in three-week rotations. The engineers will conduct troop construction on an array of projects, including range target pits, road improvements and several base enhancement projects, including the construction of a gym. This unique training opportunity allows the Soldiers to work together with their NATO allies and partners to increase interoperability.

"We build readiness, and we build partnerships as we work shoulder to shoulder, making new friends, solving problems and sharing best practices with each other," said Schanley.

This is the 5th year of Resolute Castle. Each year, the exercise continues construction on more complex projects from previous years, while including new projects for the current year.

"The common benefit for all the participants is that by working together on joint infrastructure projects, they will get to know each other better," said Romanian Maj. Gen. Gheorghe Vlad, Romanian Land Forces staff representative. "They will improve skills and make a decisive contribution to strengthening cooperation and mutual trust."

Exercises like Resolute Castle build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance the bonds between partner and ally militaries through the construction of mutually beneficial engineering projects.

As Resolute Castle 19 officially kicks off, the U.S. Soldiers and their NATO allies and partners will continue to work closely together, not only to accomplish their mission, but to build everlasting friendships.