Despite hours of planning and preparation dedicated toward a common goal, those involved would not know if the planning was a success until the plans are implemented. It is only then when all involved learn whether the initial phases led to a seamless flow, or a failure.
Planning is an essential part of every military operation. This is especially so when the operation includes four countries.
Military officials from the U.S., Romanian, British and Canadian armies have come together to learn from each another and plan for Exercise Sarmis 15.
Sarmis 15 is series of ongoing joint exercises at several locations in Romania, which involves approximately 1,500 soldiers from four countries. The exercise is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which allows allied nations to improve their interoperability by working together and learning from one another in planning and executing military occupations.
“The next few days will be the most interesting when the computer-assisted exercises will take place,” said Maj. Alin Zamfir, staff officer for the 2nd Mountain Brigade Headquarters, Romanian army, and a native of Brasov, Romania. “We will see if we have planned with our fellow nations efficiently.”
The Sarmis 15 joint training exercise will include live-simulation and live-fire exercises from May 15-June 6, in the Brasov Garrison and at the Land Force Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania. The exercise will test the NATO allies’ ability to work together despite language barriers and different military planning and execution styles.
“We are very happy that we have an exercise like this because we are learning each other’s language, not Romanian or English, but the universal military language,” said Lt. Mareana Dinu, a staff officer, assigned to the 2nd Mountain Brigade, Romanian army, and a native of Urzeceie, Romania. “It’s an opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our counterparts and learn how our allies fight on our land.”
