US, Romanian partners join in Armed Forces Day celebration

Photo By Staff Sgt. Rebecca Petrie | A U.S. soldier hands off an AK-74 to a Romanian during a weapon swap activity at the firing range. Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team joined their Romanian partners in a two-day celebration of Romanian Armed Forces Day, Oct. 24-25 honoring the day in 1944 when the Romanian army liberated the last Romanian town under foreign occupation.  

QALAT, AFGHANISTAN

10.25.2011

Courtesy Story

116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team joined their Romanian partners in a two-day celebration of Romanian Armed Forces Day Oct. 24-25 honoring the day in 1944 when the Romanian army liberated the last Romanian town under foreign occupation.

The joint celebration started Oct. 24 with several members of the 116th IBCT participating in a weapon-swap activity with the Romanian soldiers. Each soldier had the opportunity to fire the Romanian AK-74, and afterward, the U.S. soldiers brought out their firepower for the Romanians to try.

“We’re kind of limited in the things we can do here,” said U.S. Sgt. Travis Glover, a forward observer from Chesapeake, Va., who said the activity was a great way to celebrate the holiday and show support for the Romanian military. “It was a good time to interact with them in a more social environment. Most military guys like to shoot.”

The following evening, a concert featuring the 82nd Airborne band, Green Light, Go, was held in the dining facility at Forward Operating Base Lagman, while a dinner featuring Romanian cuisine was held at FOB Apache.

Romanian 1st Lt. Rotila, normally a supply officer, started cooking the dinner dishes early in the morning with four Romanian volunteers. The menu included: polenta with beef stew, beans and sausage, stuffed bell peppers, sour cream soup, and meatball soup.

“It is our first time serving Romanian dishes in honor of Romanian Armed Forces Day for an entire FOB,” said Romanian Lt. Col. Iulian Berdilla, with the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Task Force Calugareni.

The line for dinner – a mix of U.S. service members, Romanian soldiers and contractors – was out the door. For the occasion, the dining facility was decorated with Romanian flags – and lots of them – with a television showing a promotional slideshow of Romania.

“It reminds me of home,” said Romanian Capt. Cristian Ichimescu. “The taste was pretty much the same. These guys [Romanian cooking volunteers] did an amazing job.”

The combined celebration is a great example of the powerful connection between the two coalition partners.

“The U.S. military relationship with the Romanian army is a strong bond,” said U.S. Maj. Robert Fitch from Richmond, Va., a soldier involved with developing the Afghan National Security Forces in Zabul province. “We serve the common purpose of strengthening the Afghan military, police and governance for the security of the Afghan people.”

Earlier in the week, video greetings from two U.S. soldiers highlighting the holiday were aired on Romanian television.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2011
• Date Posted: 10.29.2011 11:19
• Story ID: 79260
• Location: QALAT, AF