File:160916-Z-OU450-052 cropped.jpg

English: The Republic of Moldova hosts Multinational Exercise Fire Shield 2016 at Bulboaca Training Area, Moldova, Sept. 2016. Over the two weeks of the exercise visiting crews, including the NCNG’s 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment (120th INF) and 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (113th FA), learned Moldovan tactics and techniques from their hosts and shared their own best practices with their Moldovan colleagues. “It helps us work together on the same task if we need to,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin Adcock, a targeting officer with the 113th FA. Classroom instruction, drills and live fire practice led up to the conclusion of the exercise a multiple artillery battery fire with press and government leaders including Anatol Şalaru, the Defense Minister of Moldova, James D. Pettit, the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova and Daniel Ionita, the Romanian Ambassador to Moldova in attendance. “It is humbling,” said Spc. Mitchell LaPorte, a Soldier with headquarters 120th INF. Fire Shield 2016 is a multinational exercise intended to train combined, small unit and artillery units with more than 300 participants from three countries, Moldova, Romania and the United States. (cropped U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs/Released)