Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Brian Kimball | U.S. Army Specialist Nicholas Incelli, a Soldier with the 5th Battalion 7th Air...... read more read more
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By Tech. Sgt. Brian Kimball
Defense Media Activity-Forward Center Europe
CAPU MIDIA, Romania – Approximately 88 plus U.S. Army Soldiers, with Delta Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (5-7th ADA) out of Baumholder, Germany deployed to the coastline of the Black Sea in Romania for a collaborative “Shock” exercise with the Romanian Air Force on October 31, 2016. The weeklong exercise tested the unit’s deployment readiness and joint training capabilities with “Patriot” Launchers and radar systems.
These types of multinational training events assists in strengthening regional security through improved interoperability between partnering nations; increasing regional stability and efficiencies of combined multinational operations is an integral part of sustaining peace within Europe.
The “Shock” exercises are unique in that they test deployment readiness of the Patriot Battery on their short notice response to allied nations, which increases their efficiency in quick response tactics.
In previous years, the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (10th AAMDC) has coordinated and executed “Shock” exercises with Poland but this particular exercise will be a historical moment. This is the first time that the U.S. Patriot Air Defense Battery has conducted operations in Romania.
"We have been given a very unique opportunity to showcase both our speed of assembly and I am excited that our battery was chosen to conduct this mission," stated 1st Lt. Nicholas Ontiveros, an executive officer with 5-7th ADA.
U.S. Army Air Defense Soldiers and members of the Romanian Air Force exchanged their own personal “Hawk” and “Patriot” missile system knowledge with one another over the past week in an effort to increase efficiencies and strengthen their combined capabilities in future joint operations.
This exercise will lead the way for future operations and exercise for the upcoming years. The 10th AAMDC is already coordinating for next years “Shock” exercise with the Romanian Air Force.
Lt. Col. Douglas Lynch, Commander of 5-7 ADA, thanked the Romanian Air Force, “ On behalf of all the Americans, I thank our gracious hosts. This exercise has met all the objectives, the first one was to get Patriot into Romania and we did it. Romania, know that we stand by you and look forward to many more training exercises in the future.”
Despite the rain, cold weather and long hours the 5-7th ADA Soldiers were not affected. They successfully worked with their Romanian partners, fulfilled all mission requirements and created new friendships.
| Date Taken: | 11.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.11.2016 00:26 |
| Story ID: | 214440 |
| Location: | BLACK SEA, RO |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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