Fire Shield
Fire Shield (Romanian: Scutul de Foc) is a military exercise that takes place in Moldova and Romania. The exercise aims to increase the interoperability level and improve the coordination process of military operations in a multinational framework. Since 2016, the exercise is held on rotation at the Bulboaca and Smârdan training ranges in Moldova, and Romania respectively.[1]
| Fire Shield Scutul de Foc | |
|---|---|
 Moldovan soldiers with US and Romanian soldiers at the Fire Shield 2019 closing ceremony | |
| Status | Active |
| Location(s) | Bulboaca Military Training Base Smârdan Training Area |
| Country |  Moldova Romania |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Inaugurated | 3 September 2015 |
| Attendance | Moldovan Armed Forces Romanian Armed Forces United States Armed Forces |
History
Following a 2013 agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of Moldova on cooperation in the military field,[2] the first iteration of Fire Shield was organized between 3 September and 2 October 2015. The exercise took place at the Bulboaca Military Training Base in Moldova.[3]
Over 600 soldiers from the Moldovan Army took part in the exercise. Participating units included the Moldovan 3rd Motorized Infantry Brigade and the 22nd Peacekeeping Battalion, as well as a platoon of the Romanian 52nd Mixed Artillery Regiment. The exercise was attended by Moldovan Minister of Defense Anatol Șalaru, the Secretary of the Supreme Security Council Alexei Barbăneagră, the Romanian ambassador Marius Lazurca, and the deputy commander of the US 4th Infantry Division, Timothy J. Daugherty.[3]
In 2016, the first stage of the exercise took place at Bulboaca with the participation of 223 Moldovan soldiers, 30 soldiers from the Romanian 52nd Mixed Artillery Regiment, and 30 soldiers from the North Carolina Army National Guard.[4] The second stage of the exercise took place at the Smârdan Training Range in Romania between 19 and 30 September.[1]
In 2019, over 1,000 soldiers from Moldova, Romania, and the United States participated in the training exercises with artillery systems, engineering equipment, ground vehicles, trucks, and aircraft. The Romanian participation was represented by the 52nd Mixed Artillery Regiment, and the 151st Infantry Battalion of the 15th Mechanized Brigade.[5]
During the 2020 exercise, the soldiers were strictly monitored by military doctors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
The 2023 exercise was attended by some 500 soldiers and took place from 10 September until 22 September.[7] The exercise was conducted simultaneously with the Rapid Trident exercise and US soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division assigned to the 10th Mountain Division also participated.[8] Field training outside of the military training area was conducted for four days, followed by a live artillery fire demonstration on the Distinguished Visitors Day.[9]
Gallery
North Carolina National Guard Soldiers arriving in Moldova for Fire Shield 2016
Moldovan howitzer battery live fire
57 mm anti-aircraft gun at Fire Shield 2019
9M113 Konkurs wire-guided missile being launched
Fire Shield 2023 plaque
See also
References
- "Militarii bârlădeni participă la exercițiul "Scutul de foc 2016"". bdbnews.ro (in Romanian). 16 September 2016.
- Marius Bâtcă (10 July 2020). "Scutul de foc 20.1". presamil.ro (in Romanian).
- "La Bulboaca s-a încheiat exerciţiul "Scutul de foc 2015"". army.md (in Romanian). 2 October 2015.
- "Exercițiul "Scutul de Foc 2016" a demarat la Bulboaca". army.md (in Romanian). 12 September 2016.
- "Scutul de foc 19.2". presamil.ro (in Romanian). 26 September 2019.
- "Scutul de foc 20.1". presamil.ro (in Romanian). 10 July 2020.
- "A începutul exercițiul "Scutul de Foc 2023". Contingentele de militari vor executa trageri de luptă din armamentul de infanterie și sisteme de artilerie, pe timp de noapte și zi". zdg.md (in Romanian). 11 September 2023.
- "News Release - U.S., Romanian and Moldovan Forces conduct Exercise Rapid Trident in Moldova". United States Army Europe and Africa. 12 September 2023.
- Catalina Carrasco (26 September 2023). "Infantry and artillery come together for multinational exercise in Moldova". DVIDS.
