For first time in 80 years, 101st Airborne Division lands in Europe, to help NATO allies
by
40th Public Affairs Detachment, US Army
August 1, 2022 9:52 am
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, ROMANIA – The Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Brigade Combat Team uncased their colors and conducted an air assault demonstration on July 30, at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania.
The ceremony symbolizes the start of the division’s forward deployment in Europe in support of the US Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and reassure partners across the European continent.
Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division and UH-60 Blackhawks and CH-47 Chinooks assigned to the 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division, conduct an air assault demonstration on July 30, 2022, at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania. (Army Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley, contributed)
US soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division march in formation led by Maj. Gen. JP McGee, commanding general, 101st Airborne Division, and Command Sgt. Maj. Veronica Knapp, command sergeant major, 101st Airborne, during an uncasing ceremony at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, July 30, 2022. (Army Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley, contributed)
A soldier assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” 101st Airborne Division), fires blank rounds from an M240 during an air assault demonstration on July 30, 2022, at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania. (Army Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley, contributed)
US Army Maj. Gen. JP McGee, right, commanding general, 101st Airborne Division, and Command Sgt. Maj. Veronica Knapp, left, uncase the division colors during a ceremony at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, July 30, 2022. ( Army Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley, contributed)
Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment “Top Guns,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” 101st Airborne Division, conduct a 21-gun salute during the Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Brigade Combat Team colors uncasing ceremony on July 30, 2022, at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania. (Army Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley, contributed)
After 80 years, the division returns to the European theater with nearly 2,400 soldiers to reassure NATO allies and deter our adversaries.
“This ceremony and more importantly our deployment to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia represents the ironclad commitment of the United States to our NATO Allies,” stated Maj. Gen. JP McGee the commander of the 101st Airborne. “The return of the 101st Airborne Division to Europe represents something significant for us.”
In attendance was Nicolae Ciuca, the prime minister of Romania.
“After 25 years since the US-Romania strategic partnership was signed, President Biden reiterated in Madrid the US strong commitment towards the Black Sea security region,” Ciuca stated. “The 101st Airborne Division, a famous and elite US military unit has the mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.”
After uncasing the colors, soldiers from 2nd BCT, 2nd and 3rd Battalion 227th Aviation Regiment and NATO partners demonstrated the capabilities of a combined arms air assault operation.
“Exercises like this are great for us, not only do we get to pair with multinational forces, between the Romanians, the Canadian F-18’s, we get to all synchronize, and get on the same page,” remarked Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Dillon, a CH-47 maintenance test pilot assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division. “Our role for these operations is to really give maneuverability to the ground force.”
The air assault demonstration was an example of how unity amongst NATO partners and allies can translate into battlefield successes. Readiness and joint interoperability are paramount to the success of the US and NATO allied nations while forward deployed throughout Europe.
“Dear soldiers of the 101st Division, thank you for being here, I’m sure that together with the Romanian soldiers and those from the allied countries deployed here, you will accomplish your mission,” Ciuca stated. “Your presence is very welcome; we are stronger together.”
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