CERNAVODA, Romania – Soldiers and Marines from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romina joined Romanian body builders in a friendly strongman competition during the annual City Days festival in Cernavoda Aug. 20.
The competition was organized by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Joseph A. Burton, senior chaplain for the Black Area Support Team as part of the Unit Ministry Team’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community relations between the base and the outside community.
“It is wonderful to be part of the community here,” said Burton. “We enjoy being able to experience your culture and traditions.”
The service members competed with the Romanians in four three-minute events; bench press, a dumbbell relay race, clean and jerk weight lifting and an arm wrestling competition.
“Three minutes is a long time,” said Spc. Brooks Webber, 723rd Engineer Company (Firefighters), after bench pressing nearly 100 pounds 64 times in three minutes. “I am at muscle failure, but it was fun.”
American military personnel are in Romania as apart of Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe that demonstrates U.S. commitment to the collective security and enduring peace and stability in the region.
