Courtesy Photo | PORT OF CONSTANTA, Romania -- Soldiers of the 531st & 1177th Movement Control Teams,...... read more read more
More than 14,000 Active, Reserve and Guard Soldiers spent the summer in Europe partaking in the U.S. Army European Command’s Saber Guardian exercise in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.
Saber Guardian, the largest of 18 multinational exercises in the Black Sea Region this summer, demonstrates that the U.S. and its Allies and partners can quickly mass at times and locations of their choosing to defend against aggression.
“The training helps promote regional stability, security, trust, and interoperability among the Black Sea countries,” said Spc. Abdullateef Lawal, movement control specialist, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, 330th Transportation Battalion.
The 330th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade served as a rotational response force supporting U.S. Army Europe’s Operation Atlantic Resolve. The ‘Heart of the Dragon’ Battalion assisted the coordination of the movement and tracking of personnel and supplies entering and exiting the region in support of the exercise.
“The large scale exercise and others like it allows NATO countries the opportunity to train and learn together to coordinate and synchronize our efforts,” said 2nd Lt. Christopher Biehl, military police officer, HHD, 330th Trans. Bn. “It reassures our allies that the U.S. is committed to NATO and the collective security of Europe.”
“Soldiers coordinate with host nations to grant U.S. forces permissions to transport personnel and equipment by land, air and sea to make sure uninterrupted flow of combat power,” he added.
According to Staff Sgt. Patrick Letts, movement noncommissioned officer, 261st Movement Control Team, 330th Trans. Bn., Saber Guardian, an annual exercise comprised of more than 25,000 Soldiers from 22 allied and partner nations, demonstrates training that builds readiness and improves interoperability to support stability of the Black Sea Region. Atlantic Resolve demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the security of Eastern Europe through the deployment of rotational U.S. forces.
Rotational force units are used to provide a persistent presence to strengthen the NATO Alliance and respond to crisis.
Lawal said the unit ensured movement of military assets within nine nations though the countries have different laws and timelines for diplomatic clearances of military assets.
“This slows down the speed of assembly of military assets throughout the area,” he said.
The unit placed liaison notification officers inside the host nation’s National Movement Coordination Centers.
“Our NMCC teams provide an understanding to our host nation partners of U.S. units’ intents for movement and help coordinate with them to grant U.S. convoys permission to travel while de-conflicting train, air, and land issues,” he added.
Lawal said having the NMCC teams sped up diplomatic clearance approval rates, addressed host nation concerns, and built an understanding between nations.
Over the past three months, the ‘Heart of the Dragon’ Battalion reduced the wait time for diplomatic clearance approval of military personnel and equipment throughout the Baltic States. By developing relationships with Allies and partner forces through a presence in the NMCC.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2017 06:16 |
| Story ID: | 244763 |
| Location: | CINCU, RO |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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