US military train in Cincu
The American military stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base have trained for a week at Cincu training ground, in Brașov county.
Agenția Media a Armatei, 06.03.2024, 11:34
The American military stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base have trained for a week at Cincu training ground, in Brașov county. They form part of the 101st Airborne Division and simulated infiltrating enemy territory using Black Hawk helicopters to land in training areas. It is the third exercise of this kind they have participated in, since their arrival in Romania. The Romanian land forces were kind enough to let us train in their area, Captain Joseph Palazini, said. We have shootings with teams of 9-10 soldiers, who infiltrate here, in this complex, under real shooting conditions and do different maneuvers, the military commander also said. I have seen these days how people are progressing and they do much better with the equipment they have, using this terrain and these conditions, Captain Joseph Palazini, of the 101st Airborne Division, concluded. Several thousand American soldiers are permanently stationed at Romanian bases to strengthen defense on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States has reached its third 9-month rotation in Romania.
The Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, met with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, who was on an official visit to Romania on February 26 and 27. Talks focused on the security situation, with an emphasis on the West Balkan region, and on NATO’s Eastern Flank, enhancing bilateral and allied collaboration, as well as collaboration within regional initiatives. The Chief of Defense highlighted the contribution of the three rotations of the North Macedonian military to the Southeast Multinational Brigade. “Joint training, as well as participation in NATO and EU missions, strengthens the partnership between the two armies, increases the level of training and interoperability. We have identified new opportunities for cooperation, given the priority of maintaining stability in the West Balkans, and strengthening the allied deterrence and defense posture in the context of the security crisis generated by the war in Ukraine”, General Gheorghiță Vlad said.
The agenda of the North Macedonian Chief of Defense included visits to the units of the Southeast Multinational Brigade. At the ceremony held at the 1st Olt Infantry Battalion in Caracal, the deployment unit of the Macedonian contingent, honorary distinctions were handed out to some Romanian and Macedonian soldiers. At the same time, the members of the delegation met with the soldiers of the Macedonian contingent and visited the barracks and the facilities made available to them. General Gjurchinovski thanked for the support provided by the Romanian military in the training program and said: “As a commander, you cannot feel a greater satisfaction than to witness the progress made since the beginning. For us, the military of the Republic of North Macedonia, to take part in these activities means a lot, in spite of the fact that we are only a platoon of 34 soldiers. Our nation has to start somewhere, and thanks to our partners and allies, we are building a stronger force, based on lessons learned and improving national doctrines and concepts.” (EE)