CINCU, Romania--- Beautiful rolling hills, green pastures, and spectacular mountain ranges are just a few of the sights that can be seen from the Cincu Training Center here in Romania.
Driving up and down the range roads offers an amazing experience as both American and Romanian Soldiers work together in the town of Cincu which sits just on the horizon and is highlighted by a very distinctive medieval church.
“The landscape is absolutely amazing,” said Spc. Beth Durr, a carpenter assigned to the 166th Engineer Company. “One of the Romanian Soldiers said there was a glacial lake up in the Carpathian Mountains that maintains an average temperature of about 12 degrees Fahrenheit all throughout the year.”
Over the past two months, Soldiers with the 877th Engineer Battalion have been working closely with their Romanian counterparts at the Cincu Training Center to build a 5 kilometer road along with 12 other buildings at the training center in support of Operation Resolute Castle 15.
Operation Resolute Castle 15 is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational operation that involves a series of engineering and construction projects held in Romania and Bulgaria from June 15-Sept. 15, 2015, that highlights the State Partnership Program as well as the integration of the Army National Guard into Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The 877th Engineer Battalion Soldiers are currently in their fifth and final rotation of their Resolute Castle 15 mission with their Romanian counterparts and projects are rapidly nearing completion.
“This has been a wonderful experience for me and my people,” said 2nd Lt. Augustin Vuescu, a platoon commander for the Romanian Engineers. “It’s a real chance for us to improve our English speaking skills and also work side by side with our American counterparts here.”
Vuescu and his fellow Romanian engineers has worked alongside the 877th Engineers at the vertical site throughout the entire duration of Operation Resolute Castle 15.
Staff Sgt. Shawn Gottwald, construction supervisor and team leader with the 1151st Engineer Company said the main objective at the vertical site has been focused on building multiple ammunition sheds and storage facilities for the small arms range.
“The Romanian Soldiers have been a lot of help here on the job site,” said Gottwald. “Since our unit has been here we have started to pick up on several different Romanian words and phrases which has helped us accomplish our tasks more efficiently on a daily basis.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Persch, vertical engineer site supervisor with the 1151st Engineer Company, said the Romanian Soldiers are very eager to learn and share knowledge on European construction methods.
“This training experience has really helped our Soldiers deal with a variety of challenging situations and also learn how to react to the unknowns when dealing with construction work, said Persch. “More importantly, our Soldiers have developed some very positive relationships with our Romanian friends.”
At the Crimson Road work site, 1st Lt. Jason Lawing, project site supervisor with the 186th Horizontal Engineer Company, explained the objectives were to install several culverts and drainage systems to prevent erosion from occurring on the newly formed range road.
“Communication has been tremendous here on the Crimson Road site,” said Lawing. “It has been a great honor to work hand and hand with our Romanian counterparts.”
As the Alabama National Guard Soldiers head home after this final rotation, the changed landscape of Cincu Training Center will be a visible symbol of the partnership that has transpired here over the summer between the Romanian Armed Forces and the Alabama National Guard.
“Hats off to our Romanians friends for their hospitality and kindness here in Cincu,” said Gottwald. “Whether it was a needed tool, bottle of water, or just a helping hand, our Romanian counterparts made it happen.”