Saber Guardian 16 kicks off

Photo By Pfc. Jessica Pauley | Army Colonel Robert Bertrand, the U.S. Army Europe exercise co-director, answers media questions after an opening ceremony conducted for exercise Saber Guardian in Cincu, Romania, July 26, 2016. Saber Guardian is a multinational military exercise involving approximately 2,800 military personnel from nine nations including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the U.S. The objectives of this exercise are to build multinational, regional and joint partnership capacity by enhancing military relationships, exchanging professional experiences, and improving interoperability between the land forces from the participating countries (U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Jessica L. Pauley, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team)  

CINCU, ROMANIA

07.27.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos 

24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

CINCU, Romania – Hundreds of Soldiers gathered here July 27, 2016 to mark the official start of Exercise Saber Guardian 16.

Saber Guardian is a Romanian and U.S. Army Europe-led exercise designed to promote regional stability and security, while strengthening partnership capacity, and fostering trust while improving interoperability between Romania, the U.S., NATO and Partnership for Peace member nations. It takes place July 27-Aug. 7, 2016 at the Romanian Land Force Combat Training Center (RLF-CTC) in Cincu, Romania.

Romanian Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc opened the ceremony by saying, “this exercise, will strengthen the interoperability between us and our partners, and will guarantee that our allies will want to seek further training opportunities with us.”

Saber Guardian demonstrates readiness by exercising a credible collective defense scenario that includes a command post exercise, field exercise, and a live fire exercise utilizing the total Army concept of active duty, U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard forces to synergize their combined effects.

Col. Robert Bertrand, U.S. Army Europe exercise co-director, stressed the importance of this exercise because,” it demonstrates how critical to US and NATO the Southern flank and Black Sea region is to our shared defense.”

Bertrand went on to say that the U.S. military presence in Romania serves an important purpose.

“United States Army Europe will continue to increase our interaction with you, our allies and partners, who are under pressure from Russia or the Islamic State and those who face challenges from refugees, to assure you in our commitment to our mutual stability and security,” he said. “We look forward to working with you over the next two weeks.”

• Date Taken: 07.27.2016
• Date Posted: 07.28.2016 09:35
• Story ID: 205311
• Location: CINCU, RO