Photo By Tatum Vayavananda | After an opening ceremony for Black Sea Rotational Force 11, Lt. Col. Nelson S....... read more read more
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MIHAIL KOGALNICEAU, Romania - About 200 Romanian and U.S. Marines, along with Romanian and U.S. military officers, Romanian civilian, and news media attended the opening ceremony of Black Sea Rotational Force 11 on April 27 to officially kick off their five-month engagement in the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions.
The ceremony featured U.S. Marine and Romanian formations, the Romanian Navy Band playing both countries’ national anthems, and news media witnessing the ceremony on the recently built Mihail Kogalniceau Romanian Land Forces base here.
Over the next five months the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force and almost 800 Romanian troops will participate in more than 50 different training events that involve twelve Eastern European nations around the region, said Lt. Col. Nelson S. Cardella, the commanding officer, BSRF-11, in his speech to the troops.
“We’ll be sharing knowledge, fostering security and, most of all, building enduring partnerships,” he added.
It was important to let the media and the people know that the U.S. is here, that we are starting the exercise and what is happening in their country, said Roxana C. Taranu, a linguist with BSRF-11.
“It is also a good thing for the new base to be promoted as well,” said Taranu. The deployment involves a lot of different nations, and as the host nation, it is important to celebrate the start, she added.
“I’m excited because even though we’ve been here a few weeks already, now we can delve into our operations and training,” said Lance Cpl. Clint R. Parisien, a motor transportation operator, BSRF-11. “This is the official kick-off, right here, so we can officially start the Black Sea rotation,” added the Bronx, N.Y., native.
The Romanian militaries and the U.S. Marines share the same values and traditions and it’s nice to establish a bond between them, said Romanian Capt. Claudiu Visan, the deputy commander for Romanian Marines, BSRF-11.
“It was a nice, short ceremony and a nice start for the exercise,” said Visan. Today both countries’ troops are meeting up and traveling together approximately 55 miles north to Babadag Training Area, he added.
In Babadag Training Area, the Marines and the Romanian troops will share experiences to enhance their knowledge and train in peacekeeping and counter-insurgency operations. Training is to include basic infantry skills, Marine Corps martial arts and non-lethal weapons handling.
The training is particularly relevant for the Romanian troops involved in BSRF-11. Romania has contributed 1,800 troops to operations in Afghanistan as a NATO member. Seventeen have been killed in action, a sacrifice recognized and honored in Cardella’s remarks.
“Hopefully we can share our skills and our mentality and help them prepare for combat,” said Parisien.
“I think the ceremony went well,” said Parisien, “and I was excited because not every Marine gets the opportunity to stand in formation with foreign troops.”
“With partnership comes commitment… BSRF-11 [is] committing something, whether they are NATO partners, fighting the struggle against terror or committing to developing core skills that will make the region safe,” said Cardella, a native of Waxhaw, N.C.
“Everything was synchronized perfectly and there were only good impressions about the ceremony,” said Taranu.
Being in the same formation and making the same troop movements expresses that [both nations] are working and communicating together, said Taranu.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2011 15:22 |
| Story ID: | 69438 |
| Location: | MIHAIL KOGALNICEAU, RO |
| Web Views: | 565 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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