Local soldier helping forge alliance

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania - Nearly 40 years ago, murals depicting the glory of the Soviet military were freshly painted at the Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria. Today, nearly 20 years after the end of the Cold War they are flaking, subdued images of a bygone era. Now, artificial thunder echoes through the hills as a Bulgarian M1117 Guardian armored security vehicle runs the training course, mowing down targets with fire from its mounted heavy machine gun.

Army Spec. Alan J. Richardson, son of Rodney and Shauna Richardson, of The Colony, is faced with these reminders of the Cold War and the difficulties of conducting U.S. Army business in a foreign nation, as a member of Joint Task Force-East, a multi-national task force designed to make stronger allies of Romania and Bulgaria. The operation hones the skills of soldiers from all three nations as well as helping the people living in some of the poorest areas of the two European countries.

Spec. Richardson is a cavalry scout with the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany, and is currently deployed to Romania to support the task force, based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania.

"I'm a gunner on a Stryker vehicle," said the 2005 Whitehouse High School graduate. "We're here training with the Romanians so we know each other's procedures in case we get deployed together."

Soldiers from all three countries trained together in individual and company-level movements as well as with armored vehicles, a variety of weapons and combat lifesaving skills. They also practiced the coordination needed to go into and clear a hostile urban area. In addition to the training, the soldiers took time to visit a number of local villages and allowed children to explore the vehicles they were using.

"We're learning about moving techniques and a lot of other stuff," said Richardson. "It's really pretty neat to be out here with the Romanian military."

Military training wasn't the only reason American service members were in Romania and Bulgaria. A group of doctors and nurses traveled to several villages around the training bases in both countries. The team worked with local health care workers and translators to provide screenings for optical and other general health concerns. There was also a team of Navy Seabees helping renovate and upgrade local schools and medical facilities.

In spite of the language barrier and cultural differences the American soldiers and their Bulgarian or Romanian counterparts were usually able to get their messages across.

"It's good to train with other soldiers," said Richardson, who has been in the Army for four years and deployed to Iraq in 2006. "It's different because I'm learning a lot of things from the Romanian soldiers."

Whether building new schools, bringing medical services to villages or practicing the art of war, Romanian, Bulgarian and American service members, like Richardson, are working to keep the positive relationships going long after everyone has gone home. The relationships built on this training ground will go a long way toward making sure the three nations can work together seamlessly.

Jessica Switzer is a staff sergeant with the United States Air Force.

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...