Key leaders plan for enhanced partnership

The ASA-Black Sea garrison command team hosted the second edition key leaders engagement event with civic leaders and communities of Mihail Kogalniceanu and Constanta, July 21.

The KLE attendees discussed ways to strengthen the communities’ ties, improve readiness, find innovative solutions and enhance quality of life.

“Sometimes it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Lt. Col. Brian C. Fiddermon, garrison commander of the Army Support Activity-Black Sea at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.

In attendance were Ionut Rusu, Deputy Mayor of Constanta; Ancuta Belu, Mayor of Mihail Kogalniceanu; Chief Inspector Gluga Constantin Adrian, Chief of Police Constanta County; Col. Dan Constantinescu, Deputy Chief of Emergency Services Constanta County; Ruxandra Serescu, Chamber of Commerce General Manager; Commander Eduart Dodu, Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase Deputy Base Commander; and Sgt. Maj. Mircea Piticar, Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase Sergeant Major.

This event opened the floor to broaden discussions between the chamber of commerce, the ASA-Black Sea and the 918th Contracting Battalion to reach out to the citizens of MK and Constanta.

Serescu expressed her interest in partnering with the 918th CBN to facilitate businesses in the community.

“I will need to know what goods and services are needed,” said Serescu. “I believe that there will be a lot of business interest.”

Maj. Eric T. Kufel, assigned to the 918th CBN, 409th Contract Support Brigade, discussed a plan to expand local business through the proper registration processes.

“We are very excited to partner with the Constanta Chamber of Commerce for our upcoming local industry outreach events,” Kufel said. “This will provide us a great opportunity to support the vendor base in Romania while expanding the number of local businesses who are interested in receiving theater contracts in support of the U.S. Military in the Victory South area of Operation.”

After their discussion, Kufel and Serescu were able to share ideas on how the chamber of commerce and the 918th CBN could facilitate business opportunities through future conversations.

“We are very interested in continuing to sustain and build upon our relationship with the Romanians,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronis J. Gutierrez, senior enlisted advisor of ASA-Black Sea. “Our soldiers are here, they live in the local communities, and they spend money on the economy.”

The KLE also offered an opportunity to facilitate open and streamlined communication, so all parties can work together to find interactive community engagement activities to include the local Romanian veterans.

The ASA-Black Sea suggested an initiative called the “Good Neighbor Program” that aims to recognize a Romanian veteran quarterly from any theater operation, and at year-end plant a tree or rose in their honor.

“Partnership requires action,” Fidder-mon stated. “One of the things that we realize is that talk is cheap, actions matter, we are not just talking about being good partners but we are actively doing things accordingly.”

For ASA-Black Sea, events and initiatives like the “Good Neighbor Program” are an integral part for the growth of partnerships and community relations.

Other events that will be taking place in upcoming months will be an airshow that MK Airport will host on August 5, and joint partnership training between the U.S. Army and other NATO allies, and partners for peace.

“We will be opening up our base to the general public,” said Fiddermon.

He urged the local communities to come out and see what is happening.

Belu spoke on important key points about the utilization of resources, emergency organization and the expansion of MK in the future.

“The presence of the U.S. Army is good, but we also need support from your side to actually tackle the important issues,” Belu said. “We are happy to be your hosts, but we also need your support.”

Fiddermon took note of Belu’s concern and proposed a plan of action to approach this issue.

“We understand your concern and one of the things we can do is advocacy,” said Fiddermon. “We can certainly take that and push that up to Bucharest where the embassy is and have them weigh on it. ”

The impact of KLEs shape positive interactions and soldiers’ quality of life by allowing us to capitalize on what this community has to offer, so we can be good guests, Fiddermon explained.

“Key Leadership engagements,” Fiddermon said. “This impacts the quality of life for soldiers and the community. When soldiers go outside of the gate, they’re part of this (Mihail Kogalniceanu) community.”

Rusu spoke out about how he wants the growing military presence to be more than just inhabitants while in MK and Constanta.

“We don’t want you all to be the guests,” Rusu proclaimed. “We want you all, the guests, to be a part of the family.”

These conversations are what KLEs are for, to engage ASA-Black Sea and the surrounding local communities and establish meaningful relationships and partnerships that will set new opportunities for the future.

“We want to keep the interaction and interoperability going,” James D. Adamski, Garrison Deputy Manager said. “Working with these key dignitaries just shows the support that both sides have to make a great long-lasting friendship and family moving forward.”

While partnerships tend to focus on training opportunities and operational efficiencies, it is also about maintaining mutually beneficial relations and enhancing quality of life for the Army and local communities.

“We are willing partners,” Fiddermon said. “We will advocate to senior leaders. This is what we are doing, this is how we are making life better and we are building those relationships at the grassroot level.”

ASA-Black Sea KLEs are on an annual basis and the next iteration is planned for 2024.