Stories

170816-M-NX410-037.JPG - U.S. Marines with 6th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, and soldiers with the 31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion, discuss troop movements over a terrain model after conducting a patrol during the Georgia Deployment Program-Resolute Support Mission Mission Rehearsal Exercise aboard the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Aug. 16, 2017. The MRE is the culminating event of the GDP-RSM in which 6th ANGLICO Marines are working alongside the 31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion to demonstrate that the battalion is ready for deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kimberly Aguirre/Released)

Lance Cpl. Adrian Delafuente, a rifleman with Black Sea Rotational Force 12 takes part in dismounted patrol training with Romanian soldiers in Iasi, Romania May 8. The ten-day event included training led by Marine non-commisioned officers. The Black Sea Rotational Force 12 is a Special-Purpose MAGTF with crisis response capabilities deployed to the region to enhance interoperability, promote regional stability and build camaraderie amongst the forces.::r::::n::(Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul D. Zellner II)::r::::n:: - Lance Cpl. Adrian Delafuente, a rifleman with Black Sea Rotational Force 12 takes part in dismounted patrol training with Romanian soldiers in Iasi, Romania May 8. The ten-day event included training led by Marine non-commisioned officers. The Black Sea Rotational Force 12 is a Special-Purpose MAGTF with crisis response capabilities deployed to the region to enhance interoperability, promote regional stability and build camaraderie amongst the forces.::r::::n::(Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul D. Zellner II)::r::::n::

The Marines and sailors of Black Sea Rotational Force 12, pictured here, rescued a Romanian family of four including an infant from a car crash that left the road during inclement weather. The servicemembers were returning from a marathon in Transylvania when they came upon the accident that left the family trapped down a steep embankment. ::r::::n::Group picture:::r::::n::Back row; (Petty Officer Third Class Girien Salazar), (Captain James Flood), (Sgt. Maj. Gary Jacobs), (Master Sgt. Todd Gunter), (Lieutenant Paul Evans), (Lieutenant Derek Owens), (First Sgt. Brian Porter).::r::::n::Front row; (Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Morgan), (Commander Jonathan Kuehne), (Chief Petty Officer Kathy Canady), (Staff Sgt. Darla Richardson), (Staff Sgt. Enid Browne), (Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adrian Weaver), (Gunnery Sgt. Juan Delacruz).::r::::n:: - The Marines and sailors of Black Sea Rotational Force 12, pictured here, rescued a Romanian family of four including an infant from a car crash that left the road during inclement weather. The servicemembers were returning from a marathon in Transylvania when they came upon the accident that left the family trapped down a steep embankment. ::r::::n::Group picture:::r::::n::Back row; (Petty Officer Third Class Girien Salazar), (Captain James Flood), (Sgt. Maj. Gary Jacobs), (Master Sgt. Todd Gunter), (Lieutenant Paul Evans), (Lieutenant Derek Owens), (First Sgt. Brian Porter).::r::::n::Front row; (Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Morgan), (Commander Jonathan Kuehne), (Chief Petty Officer Kathy Canady), (Staff Sgt. Darla Richardson), (Staff Sgt. Enid Browne), (Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adrian Weaver), (Gunnery Sgt. Juan Delacruz).::r::::n::

Sgt. Jonathan Davis a reconnaissance Marine with the ground command element, Black Sea Rotational Force 12, paints the face of a young boy from a local orphanage while volunteering in Constanta, Romania, April 22. The Marines and sailors of BSRF 12 worked with Hands Across Romania to entertain and feed 250 children from three local orphanages. - Sgt. Jonathan Davis a reconnaissance Marine with the ground command element, Black Sea Rotational Force 12, paints the face of a young boy from a local orphanage while volunteering in Constanta, Romania, April 22. The Marines and sailors of BSRF 12 worked with Hands Across Romania to entertain and feed 250 children from three local orphanages.

Lance Cpl. Charles Morone and Sgt. Spenser McAvoy, Company A, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, search the bushes for possible insurgents on a training mission here July 22 during Exercise Agile Spirit 2011. Agile Spirit is designed to increase interoperability between the forces by exchanging and enhancing each other’s capacity in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations, including: small unit tactics, convoy operations, and counter-Improvised Explosive Device training. - Lance Cpl. Charles Morone and Sgt. Spenser McAvoy, Company A, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, search the bushes for possible insurgents on a training mission here July 22 during Exercise Agile Spirit 2011. Agile Spirit is designed to increase interoperability between the forces by exchanging and enhancing each other’s capacity in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations, including: small unit tactics, convoy operations, and counter-Improvised Explosive Device training.

Sgt. Spencer McAvoy, a squad leader with Company A, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, clears a room with Georgian soldiers here July 19 during Exercise Agile Spirit 2011. Agile Spirit is designed to increase interoperability between the forces by exchanging and enhancing each other’s capacity in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations, including: small unit tactics, convoy operations, and counter-Improvised Explosive Device training.::r::::n:: - Sgt. Spencer McAvoy, a squad leader with Company A, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, clears a room with Georgian soldiers here July 19 during Exercise Agile Spirit 2011. Agile Spirit is designed to increase interoperability between the forces by exchanging and enhancing each other’s capacity in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations, including: small unit tactics, convoy operations, and counter-Improvised Explosive Device training.::r::::n::

During a naturalization ceremony here, Pamela G. Hutchings, field program director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Vienna, Austria, leads Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Anastatia M. Dobbs, as she pledges the Oath of Allegiance and officially becomes a U.S. citizen while deployed to Romania. A Navy corpsman for Black Sea Rotational Force 11 with almost 10 years of service, Dobbs’ naturalization ceremony marks the first time a U.S. servicemember has sworn-in to become an American citizen in Romania. The USCIS made a visit to Mihail Kogalniceanu Land Forces base to conduct the ceremony, and has naturalized a total of more than 53,400 members of the U.S. armed forces since September 2001, with over 7,400 being on foreign soil. ::r::::n:: - During a naturalization ceremony here, Pamela G. Hutchings, field program director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Vienna, Austria, leads Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Anastatia M. Dobbs, as she pledges the Oath of Allegiance and officially becomes a U.S. citizen while deployed to Romania. A Navy corpsman for Black Sea Rotational Force 11 with almost 10 years of service, Dobbs’ naturalization ceremony marks the first time a U.S. servicemember has sworn-in to become an American citizen in Romania. The USCIS made a visit to Mihail Kogalniceanu Land Forces base to conduct the ceremony, and has naturalized a total of more than 53,400 members of the U.S. armed forces since September 2001, with over 7,400 being on foreign soil. ::r::::n::

The commanding officer of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, Lt. Col. Nelson S. Cardella, goes down with a big splash after Lance Cpl. Robert K. Devaney, motor transport operator and Neptune, N.J., native, hits his target on his first throw. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force joined along U.S. Army soldiers, Navy sailors and Air Force airmen to celebrate the Fourth of July with food and festivities such as a dunk tank, sports competitions, pie and watermelon-eating contests and a tug-o-war. - The commanding officer of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, Lt. Col. Nelson S. Cardella, goes down with a big splash after Lance Cpl. Robert K. Devaney, motor transport operator and Neptune, N.J., native, hits his target on his first throw. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force joined along U.S. Army soldiers, Navy sailors and Air Force airmen to celebrate the Fourth of July with food and festivities such as a dunk tank, sports competitions, pie and watermelon-eating contests and a tug-o-war.

During a period-of-instruction for convoy operations, Cpl. Nicholas Porter, rifleman and Amarillo, Texas, native, Black Sea Rotational Force 11, advises a Serbian soldier on the responsibilities of a “gunner” while doing Improvised-Explosive Device (IED) awareness training. BSRF-11 will be working with the Serbian and Bulgarian troops in Novo Selo training area in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations to advise and build the military capacities of these nations.::r::::n:: - During a period-of-instruction for convoy operations, Cpl. Nicholas Porter, rifleman and Amarillo, Texas, native, Black Sea Rotational Force 11, advises a Serbian soldier on the responsibilities of a “gunner” while doing Improvised-Explosive Device (IED) awareness training. BSRF-11 will be working with the Serbian and Bulgarian troops in Novo Selo training area in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations to advise and build the military capacities of these nations.::r::::n::

At a combat marksmanship range with U.S. Marines of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, a Bulgarian machine gunner from the Bulgarian 38th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Light Infantry Brigade, engages targets at distance of up to 200 meters to showcase the Bulgarian Dragunov’s capabilities in suppressive fire. The Ground Combat Element of BSRF-11 conducted counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations with Bulgarians and Serbians to work with foreign soldiers and build the military capacities of partner nations. - At a combat marksmanship range with U.S. Marines of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, a Bulgarian machine gunner from the Bulgarian 38th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Light Infantry Brigade, engages targets at distance of up to 200 meters to showcase the Bulgarian Dragunov’s capabilities in suppressive fire. The Ground Combat Element of BSRF-11 conducted counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations with Bulgarians and Serbians to work with foreign soldiers and build the military capacities of partner nations.

Two F-16s from the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, perform a "Calypso pass," which involves Thunderbird 5, lead solo flown by Maj. Aaron Jelinek and Maj. J.R. Williams flying Thunderbird 6, as the opposing solo, for a large crowd at the “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show held here, June 8, that was attended by local vendors as well as U.S. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force 11, to display Romanian and U.S. military air power. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force-11 participated in a “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show along with U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, and several Romanian aerial demonstration squadrons on June 8 to display Romanian and U.S. air capabilities to the locals in the area. - Two F-16s from the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, perform a "Calypso pass," which involves Thunderbird 5, lead solo flown by Maj. Aaron Jelinek and Maj. J.R. Williams flying Thunderbird 6, as the opposing solo, for a large crowd at the “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show held here, June 8, that was attended by local vendors as well as U.S. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force 11, to display Romanian and U.S. military air power. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force-11 participated in a “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show along with U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, and several Romanian aerial demonstration squadrons on June 8 to display Romanian and U.S. air capabilities to the locals in the area.

In the small farming town of Mandra, approximately 108km north of Constanta, kindergartners watch Gunnery Sgt. Giannina Pinedo, civil affairs chief, Black Sea Rotational Force 11, while Roxanna Taranu, linguists, BSRF-11, interprets how to properly prepare a Meal Ready-to-Eat before they get a chance to taste it. Marine reserve civil affairs specialists and combat engineers of Black Sea Rotational Force 11 travelled north to villages in the Topolog region to reach out and directly impact remote communities and local schools by building a school fence in Calfa village and passing out small donations to schools in Mandra, Cerbu, Luminata, and Margurele. - In the small farming town of Mandra, approximately 108km north of Constanta, kindergartners watch Gunnery Sgt. Giannina Pinedo, civil affairs chief, Black Sea Rotational Force 11, while Roxanna Taranu, linguists, BSRF-11, interprets how to properly prepare a Meal Ready-to-Eat before they get a chance to taste it. Marine reserve civil affairs specialists and combat engineers of Black Sea Rotational Force 11 travelled north to villages in the Topolog region to reach out and directly impact remote communities and local schools by building a school fence in Calfa village and passing out small donations to schools in Mandra, Cerbu, Luminata, and Margurele.