U.S.Military Presence in Romania
U.S. military presence in Romania website
The U.S.-Romania Military Relationship
by Spc. Thomas Duval
Excerpted from www.dvidshub.net
In Afghanistan, the U.S.-Romanian team, also known as Combined Team Zabul conducts daily combat operations together to include route clearance, patrols and more recently have began joint training for military working dog searches. This unique partnership could not be more apparent than along Highway 1, one of the most dangerous stretches of road in all of Afghanistan.
Here, the Arctic Wolves, soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, work hand in hand with their Romanian counterparts from the 2nd Battalion Cālugreni and 26th Infantry Battalion Red Scorpions, both of the 1st Mechanized Brigade, to aggressively fight insurgents and help build the capacity of the Afghan government for the local populace.
“We have an extremely rare and strong bond with our Romanian brothers and sisters in arms – we have these two Romanian battalions and their command and control staff here and I am constantly amazed by how well they integrate themselves into our operations,” said Col. Todd R. Wood, commander of 1/25th SBCT. “I really want to be sure we get the word out to people on the home front … in Romania.”
Overall, the military partnership between the two nations is not new, but it is unknown to most Americans.
“We have been in Afghanistan with our U.S. partners since 2003 and we also stood with you in Iraq, as well as Kosovo. This is a long and fruitful partnership that we are very proud of,” said Col. Marius Harabagiu, Romanian brigade commander.
The history between the two countries stretches back to 1880 when U.S. and Romania first began diplomatic relations and strengthened after 9/11 when the U.S. lobbied for Romanian acceptance into NATO. It was those actions that have since developed the working relationship into a true “shoulder to shoulder” operational partnership.
U.S. military presence in Romania website
The U.S.-Romania Military Relationship
by Spc. Thomas Duval
Excerpted from www.dvidshub.net
In Afghanistan, the U.S.-Romanian team, also known as Combined Team Zabul conducts daily combat operations together to include route clearance, patrols and more recently have began joint training for military working dog searches. This unique partnership could not be more apparent than along Highway 1, one of the most dangerous stretches of road in all of Afghanistan.
Here, the Arctic Wolves, soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, work hand in hand with their Romanian counterparts from the 2nd Battalion Cālugreni and 26th Infantry Battalion Red Scorpions, both of the 1st Mechanized Brigade, to aggressively fight insurgents and help build the capacity of the Afghan government for the local populace.
“We have an extremely rare and strong bond with our Romanian brothers and sisters in arms – we have these two Romanian battalions and their command and control staff here and I am constantly amazed by how well they integrate themselves into our operations,” said Col. Todd R. Wood, commander of 1/25th SBCT. “I really want to be sure we get the word out to people on the home front … in Romania.”
Overall, the military partnership between the two nations is not new, but it is unknown to most Americans.
“We have been in Afghanistan with our U.S. partners since 2003 and we also stood with you in Iraq, as well as Kosovo. This is a long and fruitful partnership that we are very proud of,” said Col. Marius Harabagiu, Romanian brigade commander.
The history between the two countries stretches back to 1880 when U.S. and Romania first began diplomatic relations and strengthened after 9/11 when the U.S. lobbied for Romanian acceptance into NATO. It was those actions that have since developed the working relationship into a true “shoulder to shoulder” operational partnership.
An Afghan army commando, U.S. soldier and Romanian service member stand shoulder to shoulder during a transfer of authority ceremony held in Zabul,Afghanistan.
Photo Pvc. Thomas Duval
Photo Pvc. Thomas Duval
Romanian soldiers of the outgoing 2nd battalion, salute their replacements, the 300th, in a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Apache, Zabul province.
Photo by Sgt. Francis O'Brien
Photo by Sgt. Francis O'Brien
NOTE: Romania has 1,843 troops in Afghanistan. Over the past years, 17 Romanian troops have been killed and 55 others have been injured in Afghanistan.
Source: Wipedia & Romanian-Insider.com
Source: Wipedia & Romanian-Insider.com
Romanian President Traian Basescu, Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea and U.S. Ambassador to Romania Mark Gitenstein arrived in Afghanistan Tuesday to meet the Romanian troops deployed in the area.
Source: Romanian-Insider.com (Nov 2010)
Source: Romanian-Insider.com (Nov 2010)