BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania -- Romanian Marines and soldiers topped off two weeks of peacekeeping operations training with U.S. Marines and Sailors at Romania’s Babadag Training Area with a final exercise, May 27, and a ceremony marking their accomplishment, May 28.
Lt. Col. Tom Gordon, the commanding officer of Black Sea Rotational Force, said he was proud of all the hard work put in by his Marines and the Romanian troops.
“I can’t predict the future, but if we, as a band of brothers, find ourselves together in combat, I’ll be proud to serve alongside Romanian forces,” said Gordon, a Boston native, while giving a speech during the ceremony.
Marines participating in the training said the Romanian forces worked hand-in-hand with 1st Tank Battalion’s scout platoon, honing their skills in combat marksmanship, convoy operations, military operations on urbanized terrain, martial arts, nonlethal weapons techniques and other areas. Scout platoon serves as the ground combat element of the Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force currently deployed to Eastern Europe for Black Sea Rotational Force.
“These guys worked hard the whole time they were here,” said Cpl. Devin Bullard, an assaultman with scout platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion. “No matter what we threw at them, they were ready, willing and motivated to try.”
During the training, the Romanians logged more than 14 hours of Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instruction, were exposed to Tasers and Oleoresin Capsicum spray, and patrolled the fields and MOUT towns throughout the training area.
Pvt. Marius Dumitru, a Romanian Marine with Amphibious Co., 307th Bn., was given a challenge coin during the ceremony for his exemplary performance and willingness to learn throughout the training evolution.
“I really didn’t expect that to happen,” said Dumitru, referring to the moment Gordon called him front-and-center. “This is a great honor for me. It’s really motivating for me and feels good to be appreciated.”
The commanders of the Romanian Marines and Land Forces soldiers were also presented with plaques, congratulating them on their hard work. But these weren’t ordinary plaques. They were made from fallen trees from the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood, France, the birthplace of the Marine nickname “Teufel Hunden,” more commonly known as “Devil Dog.”
The Marines received the title after the ferocity and relentlessness they exhibited during the battle, and the woods have become known as the "Bois de la Brigade de Marine,” or “Wood of the Marine Brigade.”
1st Tank Battalion is currently deployed to the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions as the core of a Security Cooperation Marine-Air Ground Task Force, known as Black Sea Rotational Force 2010. The Marines and Sailors have the mission to train with partner militaries, provide humanitarian support, promote stability in the region and build enduring partnerships with nations in the regions.
Macedonian forces are slated to arrive at Romania’s Babadag Training Area May 31, for two weeks of peacekeeping operations training, and the Marines and Sailors with scout platoon said they look forward to continue training with partner nations in the region.
Romanian forces are scheduled to continue training with U.S. forces over the coming with weeks, beginning with airborne training with Black Sea Rotational Force’s air combat element, a detachment of KC-130 Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 and VMGR-234.