U.S., Romanian forces prove ready along Black Sea

By Sgt. H. Marcus McGill, 41st Field Artillery BrigadeNovember 20, 2020

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A Romanian soldier stands guard in front of U.S. and Romanian land and air equipment displayed as part of ceremonies prior to Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery...
1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A Romanian soldier stands guard in front of U.S. and Romanian land and air equipment displayed as part of ceremonies prior to Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment’s second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: Sgt. H. Marcus McGill) VIEW ORIGINAL
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- U.S. and Romanian forces roll out as part of a convoy to the Black Sea for Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade's second live fire...
2 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- U.S. and Romanian forces roll out as part of a convoy to the Black Sea for Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade's second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: Sgt. H. Marcus McGill) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAPU MIDIA, Romania --  A U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems deploys its rockets into the Black Sea during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020.This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade's...
3 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAPU MIDIA, Romania -- A U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems deploys its rockets into the Black Sea during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020.This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade's second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: Sgt. H. Marcus McGill) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAPU MIDIA, Romania -- Two Romanian Multiple Launch Rocket Systems fire rockets into the Black Sea during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment’s second live fire event since reactivation just...
4 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAPU MIDIA, Romania -- Two Romanian Multiple Launch Rocket Systems fire rockets into the Black Sea during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment’s second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: Sgt. H. Marcus McGill) VIEW ORIGINAL
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- As fellow Soldiers and members of the flight crew look on, a Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade makes final preparations to a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket...
5 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- As fellow Soldiers and members of the flight crew look on, a Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade makes final preparations to a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System to be used in Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment’s second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: Spc. Jabaria Clyburn) VIEW ORIGINAL
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade  inspects a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) that was just off loaded from a C-130 during Exercise Rapid...
6 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade inspects a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) that was just off loaded from a C-130 during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment’s second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Samantha DiMauro) VIEW ORIGINAL
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman addresses the crowd at the official ceremony prior to Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery's second live fire...
7 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman addresses the crowd at the official ceremony prior to Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery's second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Samantha DiMauro) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAPU MIDIA, Romania -- U.S. and Romanian Forces gather in the staging area after the firing of a U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Romanian Multiple Launch Rocket System into the Black Sea as part of Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19,...
8 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAPU MIDIA, Romania -- U.S. and Romanian Forces gather in the staging area after the firing of a U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Romanian Multiple Launch Rocket System into the Black Sea as part of Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade's second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies. (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Samantha DiMauro) VIEW ORIGINAL
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Sgt. Zariah Fernandez removes an antenna from a HIMARS in preparation for transport in a C-130 that will take it to Romania during Exercise Rapid Falcon. Exercise Rapid Falcon allows the 41st Field Artillery Brigade...
9 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Sgt. Zariah Fernandez removes an antenna from a HIMARS in preparation for transport in a C-130 that will take it to Romania during Exercise Rapid Falcon. Exercise Rapid Falcon allows the 41st Field Artillery Brigade to perform joint operations with U.S. Airforce and Romania. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Ryan Barnes) (Photo Credit: Spc. Ryan Barnes) VIEW ORIGINAL
A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade backs a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) into a C-130 during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020.
10 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade backs a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) into a C-130 during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. (Photo Credit: Spc. Ryan Barnes) VIEW ORIGINAL
The flight crew of a U.S. Air Force C-130 make final preparations for takeoff before flying to Romania. They were delivering a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System to be used in Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020.
11 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The flight crew of a U.S. Air Force C-130 make final preparations for takeoff before flying to Romania. They were delivering a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System to be used in Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. (Photo Credit: Spc. Ryan Barnes) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade unload their HIMARS from 352nd Special Operations Wing's U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II as part of Exercise Rapid Falcon in Romania Nov. 19, 2020.
12 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade unload their HIMARS from 352nd Special Operations Wing's U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II as part of Exercise Rapid Falcon in Romania Nov. 19, 2020. (Photo Credit: Spc. Ryan Barnes) VIEW ORIGINAL
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade unload their HIMARS from 352nd Special Operations Wing's U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II as part of Exercise Rapid...
13 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade unload their HIMARS from 352nd Special Operations Wing's U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II as part of Exercise Rapid Falcon in Romania Nov. 19, 2020. (Photo Credit: Spc. Ryan Barnes) VIEW ORIGINAL

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania -- Members of 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade (41st FAB) deployed two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) with 2 launcher crews, comprised of six personnel, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany to conduct Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19. This was the unit's second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. Forces fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies.

The joint, multinational live-fire exercise included the Romania-based element of 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, U.S. 352nd Special Operations Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, and Romanian Land Forces from the 8th LAROM Brigade and the 9th Infantry Brigade.

“The lethality proven today with the distances the exercise used on the Black Sea speaks for itself,” said Maj. General Lulian Berdila, Chief of Land Forces, Romania.

The range on the rocket systems is 300 KM and Romania is in the process of acquiring systems of their own from the U.S. They expect those weapons to be in place, and fully operational by 2022.

“Today we performed a HIRAIN, which is a HIMARS Rapid Infiltration,” said Capt. Justin Bland, Alpha Battery Commander, 1-77 FAR. “This allows us to load up into a C-17, C-130, or a C-5 and go anywhere in the world and provide these timely fires.”

As part of the exercise, the HIMARS systems and their crews started the day in Germany, deployed to Romania, fired and were back on the plane to return to Germany just in the same day. The troops and their leaders prepared tirelessly and conducted hours of training in order to complete the mission.

“Readiness is our number one priority, so coming out here and conducting a joint operation enables us to make sure that we are in sync with our NATO counterparts,” said Sgt. Maj. Samuel H. Zoker, Command Sgt. Maj., 41st FAB.

This display of interoperability combines the U.S. HIMARS systems with Romanian Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to demonstrate NATO's capability to quickly and effectively provide strategic deterrence options, deter theater adversaries, and shape the operational environment. By conducting such exercises, U.S. Army Europe is able to hone its readiness while demonstrating its full commitment to partner nations and regional security.

“This is fundamental evidence of how the U.S.- Romania military partnership has developed over time. Such activities prove that we can combine capabilities and provide integrated training. The Soldiers that fired today are just a continuation of this partnership. This is just part of what is about to come in the future,” said Gen. Berdila.

The event required months of planning between U.S. and Romanian Forces. Under the best of conditions all of the details of such a complex mission would require a great deal of attention to detail. Due to the current global pandemic, the planning and execution was even more difficult.

“There is nothing different for this, we were able to do our diligent handwashing, mask wearing, and social distancing when available. It’s the same practices that we do at home and the same practices we do out here on deployment. That was on both sides, with the Romanians and the Americans, it was safe all the way around,” said Bland.

In spite of all of the safety measures required, there was still a mission to accomplish. Leadership praised the ability of troops on both sides to overcome and adapt while still conducting such vital training.

“It says a lot about the team, it was a joint effort across the board. There were mitigation efforts put into place to prevent the spread of the disease. No matter what happens, no matter if it's COVID, whatever the case may be, training still has to go on,” said Zoker. “We can deploy anywhere at any time.”

Gen. Berdila echoed Zoker's sentiments regarding the importance of protecting the health of the troops while ensuring the continuation of the mission.

“American and Romanian Soldiers proved today they can come together, fight COVID at the same time, but still address the need for deterrence and defense in the Black Sea region. We can cope with COVID, but it will never minimize our main task and our main mission to stay together, train together, and when needed, fight together,” said Berdila.

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