U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa
May 20, 2022

NATO, U.S. command SELs visit Romania

Key command senior enlisted leaders from the U. S. Air Force, NATO Allied Air Command and the Belgian Air Force toured several installations throughout Romania during a three-day visit to see firsthand the strategic impact the bases have on the overall mission of NATO, May 10-12, 2022.

Hosted by the Forţele Aeriene Române command SEL Plutonier Adjudant Daniel-Narcis Simpetru, the visit afforded his command SEL counterparts an opportunity to engage directly with Romanian Air Force leadership, visit deployed NATO members and see the multinational operational efforts of the NATO alliance. Simpetru’s senior enlisted counterparts include Royal Air Force Chief Warrant Officer Sara Catterall, NATO’s Allied Air Command; U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Benjamin Hedden, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa; and Belgian Air Force Adjutant-Major Luc Braeken.

…“Romania plays a large role in our strategic positioning and it’s great that we are here seeing firsthand how the NATO alliance is coming together to effectively accomplish the multinational operational efforts of the organization.”

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As part of the visit, the CSELs met with deployed members of the NATO alliance from the U.S., Italy, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.

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In addition to visiting deployed members, the enlisted leaders visited Boboc Air Base’s training school to meet with the Romanian Air Force’s newest command chiefs….

“As a force, we value our enlisted members and it makes our militaries stronger…it makes NATO stronger,” Catterall said to the graduates during the visit. “You are the future of our military, the future leaders, and the future of NATO.”

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“WE are NATO!” she said.