Fire Shield
{{Short description|Moldovan–Romanian joint military exercise}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox recurring event
|name = Fire Shield
|native_name = {{lang|ro|Scutul de Foc}}
|image = Alabama and North Carolina National Guard soldiers with Moldovan and Romanian soldiers.jpg
|caption = Moldovan soldiers with US and Romanian soldiers at the Fire Shield 2019 closing ceremony
|status = Active
|years_active= 2015–present
|location = {{ill|Bulboaca Military Training Base|ro|Bulboaca (poligon)}}
Smârdan Training Area
|country = {{MLD}}
{{ROU}}
|first = 3 September 2015
|last =
|attendance = Moldovan Armed Forces
Romanian Armed Forces
United States Armed Forces
|organizer =
}}
Fire Shield ({{langx|ro|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 {{ill|Bulboaca Military Training Base|lt=Bulboaca|ro|Bulboaca (poligon)}} and Smârdan training ranges in Moldova, and Romania respectively.{{cite web|url=https://bdbnews.ro/stiri-locale/militarii-barladeni-participa-la-exercitiul-scutul-de-foc-2016/|title=Militarii bârlădeni participă la exercițiul "Scutul de foc 2016"|language=ro|work=bdbnews.ro|date=16 September 2016}}
History
Following a 2013 agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of Moldova on cooperation in the military field,{{cite web|url=http://presamil.ro/scutul-de-foc-20-1/|title=Scutul de foc 20.1|author=Marius Bâtcă|language=ro|work=presamil.ro|date=2020-07-10}} the first iteration of Fire Shield was organized between 3 September and 2 October 2015. The exercise took place at the {{ill|Bulboaca Military Training Base|ro|Bulboaca (poligon)}} in Moldova.{{cite web|url=https://www.army.md/?lng=2&action=show&cat=122&obj=3551|title=La Bulboaca s-a încheiat exerciţiul "Scutul de foc 2015"|language=ro|work=army.md|date=2 October 2015}}
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.
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.army.md/?lng=2&action=show&cat=122&obj=4006|title=Exercițiul "Scutul de Foc 2016" a demarat la Bulboaca|language=ro|work=army.md|date=12 September 2016}} The second stage of the exercise took place at the Smârdan Training Range in Romania between 19 and 30 September.
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.{{cite web|url=http://presamil.ro/scutul-de-foc-19-2/|title=Scutul de foc 19.2|language=ro|work=presamil.ro|date=2019-09-26}}
During the 2020 exercise, the soldiers were strictly monitored by military doctors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=http://presamil.ro/scutul-de-foc-20-1/|title=Scutul de foc 20.1|language=ro|work=presamil.ro|date=2020-07-10}}
The 2023 exercise was attended by some 500 soldiers and took place from 10 September until 22 September.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdg.md/stiri/stiri-sociale/a-inceputul-exercitiul-scutul-de-foc-2023-contingentele-de-militari-vor-executa-trageri-de-lupta-din-armamentul-de-infanterie-si-sisteme-de-artilerie-pe-timp-de-noapte-si-zi/|title=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|language=ro|work=zdg.md|date=11 September 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/ArticleViewPressRelease/Article/3522645/news-release-us-romanian-and-moldovan-forces-conduct-exercise-rapid-trident-in/|title=News Release - U.S., Romanian and Moldovan Forces conduct Exercise Rapid Trident in Moldova|work=United States Army Europe and Africa|date=12 September 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/454307/infantry-and-artillery-come-together-multinational-exercise-moldova|title=Infantry and artillery come together for multinational exercise in Moldova|author=Catalina Carrasco|work=DVIDS|date=26 September 2023}}
Gallery
File:C-17 in Moldova.jpg|North Carolina National Guard Soldiers arriving in Moldova for Fire Shield 2016
File:Moldovan soldiers execute battery live fire.jpg|Moldovan howitzer battery live fire
File:Moldovan 57 mm anti-aircraft artillery piece.jpg|57 mm anti-aircraft gun at Fire Shield 2019
File:Moldovan artillery crews fire a wire-guided anti-tank rocket.jpg|9M113 Konkurs wire-guided missile being launched
File:Fire Shield 2023 plaque.jpg|Fire Shield 2023 plaque
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Commons category|Fire Shield}}
Category:2015 establishments in Moldova
Category:2015 establishments in Romania
Category:Military exercises and wargames
Category:Moldova–Romania relations
Category:Military exercises involving the United States