1st Tank Bn. deploys to Black Sea region

Photo By Cpl. Logan Kyle | Lance Cpl. John Lamecker, a field radio operator with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion, practices setting up satellite communications equipment at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield, Romania, May 8. The battalion is currently deployed with Black Sea Rotational Force 2010 to act as a Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force throughout the Caucasus, Balkan and Black Sea regions. (USMC photo by Cpl. R. Logan Kyle)  

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIRFIELD, ROMANIA

05.11.2010

Courtesy Story

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

By Cpl. R. Logan Kyle

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIRFIELD, Romania — "Everyone knows our motto, 'No better friend, no worst enemy,'" said Cpl. Tim Miller, an administrative assistant with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion. "But Marines aren't just on the front lines in Afghanistan; we're all over the world, strengthening partnerships with the nations that support us there."

Miller and his fellow 1st Tank Bn. Marines and Sailors deployed from Twentynine Palms, Calif., throughout the first week of May, traveling to Romania to begin a 3-month commitment as the core of the first Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force in the Black Sea region.

The Marines will work in the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions to promote regional stability, build enduring partnerships and build the capacity of partner nation's military forces. The Security Cooperation MAGTF, named the Black Sea Rotational Force, is Marine Corps Force's Europe commitment to a rotating presence of Marines in Eastern Europe to meet the U.S. European Command's theater security objectives.

By task-organizing as a Security Cooperation MAGTF, Marines from 1st Tank Bn., II Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Forces Reserve will work together to meet 40 percent of Marine Forces Europe's theater security cooperation requirements in a 3-month deployment.

I think it's really neat to do things with these countries which will strengthen our relationships with them," said Miller, a native of Levelland, Texas. "This is my first time out of the country, and I'm really excited to go see different parts of the world."

During the deployment, the battalion will train with other military forces, provide humanitarian support, promote stability in the region and carry out other theater security cooperation activities. The battalion's scout platoon is slated to conduct peacekeeping operations training with forces from multiple nations at training grounds in Babadag, Romania, and Novo Selo, Bulgaria.

"I'm looking forward to working with the Romanians and other militaries," said Lance Cpl. Joel Hindman, an assaultman with scout platoon, 1st Tank Bn., and an Omaha, Neb., native. "The people we've met so far have been really friendly in teaching us their language and culture, and I'm excited to get to know them better."

The battalion's commander, Lt. Col. Tom Gordon, said the work of his Marines over the coming months is designed to yield a better relationship with the partner nations.

"It's an engagement, that's grown into a partnership, that we want to develop into a friendship," he said.

• Date Taken: 05.11.2010
• Date Posted: 05.11.2010 15:06
• Story ID: 49495
• Location: MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIRFIELD, RO