Alabama National Guard supports Romania as part of Combined Resolve II

Photo By Staff Sgt. Eric Roberts | 1st Lt. David Ryan, D Company Commander, 1st Batallion, 167th Infantry Regiment, advises a Romanian soldier on battle tactics as part of Combined Resolve II at Hohenfels. Combined Resolve II is a U.S. Army Europe-directed multinational exercise at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas, including more than 4,000 participants from 15 allied and partner countries. The exercise features the European Rotational Force, a combined arms battalion of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the U.S. Army's Regionally-Aligned rotational brigade combat team, that supports the U.S. European Command for training and contingency missions. For more photos, videos and stories from Combined Resolve II, check out www.eur.army.mil/jmtc/CombinedResolve.  

HOHENFELS, BAYERN, GERMANY

06.11.2014

Story by Sgt. Eric Roberts 

131st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

HOHENFELS, Germany - Capt. Josh Rager stands peering out onto the wildflower soaked fields of Hohenfels, Germany. In his line of sight of the commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment is more than the postcard material that is the German state of Bavaria. Just behind the tree line he observes the culmination more than 20 years of effort of the Alabama Army National Guard.

Just inside the tree line, Soldiers of the Romanian army wait, dressed in camouflage from head to toe, ready to take on whatever threat is thrown their way.

This is a moment of culmination and pride for the Alabama National Guardsman. The State Partnership Program, that started in 1993 between Romania and Alabama, has tasted victory many times: from Romania becoming a NATO member in 2004, to a member of the European Union in 2007, but for Rager, the “sight of soldiers and equipment” is what the partnership is all about.

“This is important; man this is something,” said Rager.

He, along with 1st. Lt. David Ryan, commander D Company, 1st Battalion, 167 Infantry Regiment, out of Sylacauga, Alabama, and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Causey, A Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry, have come to Germany to advise and assist the Romanian army with its role in Combined Resolve II.

Combined Resolve II is a U.S. Army Europe-led, multinational exercise at the Joint Multinational Training Command’s Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr Training Areas, May 15-June 30, 2014. The exercise includes more than 4,000 participants and will train the U.S. Army’s European Rotational Force - the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division - alongside allies and partners from 15 European countries.

Rager, Ryan and Causey watched proudly as the Romanian army took command of Task Force Greva which included the Army Reserve 364th Sapper Engineers from Dodge City, Kansas, and elements of the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, of the California Army National Guard, and 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry out of Hohenfels, Germany, to form Task Force Greva during Operation Thunder Strike.

“For a lack of a better term, this is the Alabama’s baby,” said Rager, a resident of Phenix City, Alabama, and a Columbus, Georgia, policeman. “We are here continuing to foster our relationship with the Romanians.”

Ryan said that this “unique opportunity” was once-in-a-lifetime, but that, as a father of one with another on the way, there was some sacrifice involved with the trip.

“This seems to be harder on my wife than my deployment,” said Ryan.

The lifelong resident of Trussville, Alabama, and University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate added that, “The culture of Germany and just the time spent with the Romanians ... I wish more soldiers of the Alabama National Guard had more opportunities to experience something like this.”

Causey called the partnership that started in 1993 a “growing bond,” as he peered through his Army issued binoculars from a foxhole.

“From ground level of their infantry, to how the Romanian soldiers think and work, the Romanians have impressed me. They have exceeded my expectations of their command and performance professionally, tactically and interoperably,” said Causey.

A veteran of multiple deployments, Causey still is a sucker for the ways of an infantryman from anywhere in the world.

“We observe and learn, picking up and adding to our toolbox and hopefully they (Romania) will as well,” said Causey.

“This is beneficial for both sides,” said Romanian Maj. Robert Stanciuc. “Every single multinational experience is unique.”

“There is a difference in equipment, but we have improvised,” added Stanciuc.

“You come here on your American high horse,” said Rager. “We have all the funding and equipment, but their improvisation as soldiers and as a force is impressive.”

“If you look at the Romanian soldiers, they are foreign to us, but if you look even closer, you see the friendship. This is an opportunity and a partnership you can only get in the Alabama National Guard. Being a soldier is universal,” said Rager.

• Date Taken: 06.11.2014
• Date Posted: 06.11.2014 20:57
• Story ID: 132850
• Location: HOHENFELS, BAYERN, DE
• Hometown: PHENIX CITY, ALABAMA, US
• Hometown: TRUSSVILLE, ALABAMA, US