Army Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Blaisdell, V Corps senior enlisted adviser, presents a plaque to the outgoing soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division after a transfer of authority ceremony March 26, 2025, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania. (Austin Steinborn/U.S. Army)
The U.S. military on Wednesday welcomed a new brigade in Romania to continue the mission aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression along NATO’s eastern flank.
The Army’s 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) replaced the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division during a transfer ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, part of the U.S. Army Garrison Black Sea umbrella of installations.
The soldiers arrived from Fort Campbell, Ky., for a rotational mission near the coastal city of Constanta, where they will train with NATO allies and partners, and work in other areas along the bloc’s eastern flank, V Corps spokesman Maj. Joe Bush said Tuesday.
The 101st Airborne Division uncases the unit’s colors. (Austin Steinborn/U.S. Army)
The brigade is in a position described by military leaders as the most forward-based in proximity to Ukraine, which has been locked in a full-scale war since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Both the incoming and outgoing brigades are “transforming in contact” units, considered the most modern and dynamic in the service, Bush said.
On Wednesday, soldiers from both units gathered on a grassy parade field under overcast skies.
Col. Duke Reim, commander of 2nd Brigade, vowed to strengthen partnerships in the region and “ensure the security and stability of this vital mission.”
Army Col. Duke Reim, commander of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, addresses attendees during a transfer of authority ceremony March 26, 2025, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania. (Austin Steinborn/U.S. Army)
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Romania and neighboring Poland have become the focal point of NATO deterrence. Mihail Kogalniceanu, often referred to as MK, is located just over 60 miles from the Odesa region of Ukraine.
The base is undergoing a multibillion-dollar expansion that will make it one of the largest in Europe.
In addition to military facilities for special operations and ground forces, projects include schools, shops, pharmacies and a hospital for service members and their families.
