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Transfer of Authority at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base

By Spc. Andrew MendozaDecember 15, 2023

U.S. Army Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, "Taks Force 82", soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", and Romanian military defense counterparts, watch the transfer of authority ceremony hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby)
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, "Taks Force 82", soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", and Romanian military defense counterparts, watch the transfer of authority ceremony hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", and regional military defense counterparts, stand at attention with their unit colors during the V Corps hosted transfer of authority ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression.
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", and regional military defense counterparts, stand at attention with their unit colors during the V Corps hosted transfer of authority ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, commander of the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", provides remarks during the transfer of authority ceremony, between TF Mountain and the 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby).
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, commander of the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", provides remarks during the transfer of authority ceremony, between TF Mountain and the 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby). (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. J. “Patrick” Work, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, delivers remarks during the transfer of authority ceremony. from 10th Mountain Division "Task Force Mountain" to the 82nd Airborne Division "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, marking the units’ official departure and arrival in Europe at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, on Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 are in support of the U.S. Army V Corps mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European Allies and partners, and deter aggression from potential adversaries. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby).
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. J. “Patrick” Work, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, delivers remarks during the transfer of authority ceremony. from 10th Mountain Division "Task Force Mountain" to the 82nd Airborne Division "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, marking the units’ official departure and arrival in Europe at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, on Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 are in support of the U.S. Army V Corps mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European Allies and partners, and deter aggression from potential adversaries. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby). (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Pat Work, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", and Command Sgt. Maj. Randolph Delapena, senior enlisted advisor for 82nd Airborne Division, uncase their division colors during the transfer of authority ceremony, between 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", to 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby)
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Pat Work, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", and Command Sgt. Maj. Randolph Delapena, senior enlisted advisor for 82nd Airborne Division, uncase their division colors during the transfer of authority ceremony, between 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", to 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. The soldiers and paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corps’ mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, commander of the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", and Sgt. Maj. Jorge Rivera, operations sergeant major for 10th Mountain Division, case the division colors during the transfer of authority ceremony, between 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", to 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby).
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, commander of the 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", and Sgt. Maj. Jorge Rivera, operations sergeant major for 10th Mountain Division, case the division colors during the transfer of authority ceremony, between 10th Mountain Division, "Task Force Mountain", to 82nd Airborne Division, "Task Force 82", hosted by the U.S. Army’s V Corps, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby). (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hornby) VIEW ORIGINAL
Transfer of Authority at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski speaks on the transfer of authority ceremony between the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, “Task Force Mountain”, commanded by Maj. Gen. Gregory Anderson and the 82nd Airborne Division, “Task Force 82”, commanded by Maj. Gen. Pat Work at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo Credit: Spc. Andrew Mendoza) VIEW ORIGINAL

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania – The U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, “Task Force Mountain”, commanded by Maj. Gen. Gregory Anderson and the 82nd Airborne Division, “Task Force 82”, commanded by Maj. Gen. Pat Work conducted a transfer of authority ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Dec. 15, 2023.

The ceremony hosted by V Corps Commander Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski, who spoke on the role Anderson’s Division played and how that role will be filled by the 82nd Airborne Division, marked the end of a nine-month rotation for TF Mountain, out of Fort Drum, New York, and the beginning of TF 82 rotation attended by distinguished guests, partners, and NATO allies.

“I want to express sincere gratitude for the incredible service of Maj. Gen. Anderson and the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division over the past nine months, you continue to burnish your incredible mountain legacy,” said Kolasheski. “In turn, I wish to offer my warmest welcome to Pat Work and the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and good luck as you accept your responsibility in the strategically important part of Europe.”

Paratroopers from TF 82 began arriving at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in late November out of Fort Liberty, N.C. The one-for-one unit replacement does not change current force posture levels. The transition aligns with a U.S. national-level decision to sustain a presence in southeastern Europe supporting our NATO allies and partners.

“[Maj.] Gen. Work and the mighty 82nd Airborne, with their Army’s historic division, is going to move it even further in 2024 with integrated plans, integrated warfighting, more complex combined arms formations, better infrastructure, from which to fight from and overall better capabilities, they’re going to be great teammates,” said Anderson.

Rotational units' presence in the Black Sea Region demonstrates the U.S. Department of Defense’s commitment to NATO for collective defense and regional security. TF 82's capability and capacity enables them to conduct multinational exercises with allies and partners across the Black Sea region.

“Thanks to my commanders for trusting me and trusting us with this immense responsibility to represent and support the Alliance across Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary,” said Work. “We are honored to follow our Army’s 10th Mountain Division, a tremendous unit led by tremendous soldiers.”

The Paratroopers assigned to TF 82 support the U.S. Army V Corp’s mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression. TF 82 assures allies and regional partners contributions and commitments to NATO in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia through security force assistance.

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