“Every opportunity spent with our partnered nations has tremendous training value for us and our Soldiers.”
— Maj. Michael Harrison
By Pvt. Benjamin Sterling
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Sgt. Kendal Cobb, cannon crewmember, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, looks through the gunner’s sight on a Romanian D-20 152 mm howitzer during an NCO exchange with the Romanian 285th Artillery Battalion in Galati, Romania. The exchange provides a means to strengthen interoperability between U.S. and Romanian land forces as part of U.S. Army Europe’s Operation Atlantic Resolve. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division)
GALATI, ROMANIA — The 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, learned about its allies firsthand by exchanging noncommissioned officers through an interoperability program with the Romanian 282nd Mechanized Brigade.
This iteration, the battalion shifted focus to communications, logistics, air support and artillery functions. In March, 2017, the “Fighting Eagles” Battalion swapped Soldiers in infantry and armor military occupational specialties as it trained alongside the 282nd Mechanized Brigade as part of its deterrence mission under U.S. Army Europe’s Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Sgt. 1st Class Joel Vallete, senior communications specialist, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, trained with the communications office of the Romanian 284th Armor Battalion, headquartered in Galati, Romania. He toured the facilities, practiced operating the Romanian equipment and attended a ceremony honoring the 284th’s anniversary.
“It was excellent to have shared knowledge and experience with Sgt. 1st Class Vallete,” said Romanian Master Sgt. Adrian Rotaru, signal chief with 284th Armor Bn. “We gained a great deal of understanding about each other’s capability and role, as both being the S6 (NCOs in charge) for our units. If granted the opportunity, I would like to do it again.”
U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) with 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., have been building strong bonds with the United Kingdom Royal Air Force’s 135 Expeditionary Air Wing, Romanian 861st MiG-21 Fighter Squadron and Romanian 862nd Puma Helicopter Squadron.
The JTACs have staged multiple training exercises to build interoperability.
“I have been in the Air Force for over 10 years, but I am still learning new things from our allies and partners. In addition, it is important to me to develop my Airmen,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Keithley, JTAC and team leader.
Sgt. Kendal Cobb, back row fourth from left, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stands with Romanian artillerymen from the 285th Artillery Battalion, 282nd Mechanized Brigade, while serving as part of a noncommissioned officer exchange in Galati, Romania. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division)
Romanian Staff Sgt. Alin Purice, 285th Artillery Battalion, switched spots with Army Sgt. Kendal Cobb, a cannon crew member with Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd ABCT. Purice conducted crew drills on the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled artillery platform while Cobb learned how to operate the Romanian D-20 howitzer.
Also as part of the exchange program, Romanian 1st Sgt. Ichim Angelica, a staff officer in the 300th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, learned how the U.S. handles ammunition storage.
“We are proud of the experience, expertise and leadership our corps of noncommissioned officers brings to the table,” said Maj. Michael Harrison, operations officer, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. “The idea here is to share that with our allied formations. Every opportunity spent with our partnered nations has tremendous training value for us and our Soldiers.”
Operation Atlantic Resolve is about deterring adversaries, building readiness and developing interoperability. The 3rd ABCT kicked off the continuous “heel-to-toe” rotation of U.S. Army armored brigades throughout the central and eastern European nations in January 2017.