MoND Leadership, at the opening ceremony of Exercise “SABER GUARDIAN 23”

The opening ceremony of Exercise “SABER GUARDIAN 23” (SG23) will take place on Monday, May 29, starting 11.00, at “Smârdan” Secondary Combat Training Center and will be attended by the Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvãr, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Daniel Petrescu.

Approximately 10.000 soldiers, out of which 5.000 Romanian ones, with more than 1.700 technical means of equipment from Romania and thirteen Allied and partner nations will participate in SG23 Exercise, between May 29 and June 9.

The exercise, conducted by "General Ioan Emanoil Florescu" Joint Forces Command, represents the largest and most complex multinational training activity of this year and will take place in training ranges and military facilities located in Romania.

Journalists interested in participating in the opening ceremony of SG23 are requested to send their identification data (surname, first name, series and number of the identity card, phone number and the media institution they represent) by Sunday, May 28, 12.00, to e-mail address relatii.publice01270@forter.ro. They will be expected on Monday, May 29, between 09:45 and 10:15, at the headquarters of the training range in Smârdan, Galați County, the access being allowed based on their ID and press badge. Point of contact: Staff Sergeant Oana Ieșan, tel. 0765.568180.

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"SABER GUARDIAN 23" continues the series of exercises started in 2013 and is conducted biennially, being designed to enhance interoperability in a wide range of missions for NATO member and partner countries. The scheduled training activities include ground deployments in a tactical environment, watercourse break-in, tactical exercises and combat tactical firing exercises executed with equipment employed by all Services, parachutings, as well as MEDEVAC and injured personnel treatment activities.

The main sequences of the exercise will be conducted at "Getica" National Combat Training Center in Cincu, Brașov County, the Secondary Combat Training Center from Smârdan, Galați County, the Secondary Combat Training Center from Babadag, Tulcea County, "General Ion Bungescu" AD Training School Ground-to-Air Firing Range from Capu Midia and the 57th "Mihail Kogãlniceanu" Air Base from Constanța County. At the same time, training events of SG23 will also be executed in the training facilities from Slobozia and Bordușani, Ialomița County, Vãrsãtura, Brãila County and from Frecãței, Tulcea County.

Twelve allied countries (Albania, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova, the United States of America and the Netherlands participate, alongside Romania, with troops and combat training equipment in Multinational Exercise SG23.

"SABER GUARDIAN 23" is integrated into "DEFENDER 23" group of exercises and represents the peak of professional training that includes planning and organization stages initiated before the operational execution phases currently conducted. The exercise was preceded by the displacement phase, during May, of the troops and equipment on our country's road, naval and air communication routes towards the training areas and will be followed by the returning stage, in the second decade of June.

“DEFENDER 23” is planned by US Army Europe Command (USEUCOM) and led by US Army Europe and Africa Command (USAREUR-AF).

Exercise "SABER GUARDIAN 23" is included in the USAREUR-AF joint training exercise program with a view of increasing joint and multinational interoperability with the Allied and partner nations’ armed forces.

The Press Office