Bulgaria to Host Bilateral Military Exercise Madara Horseman 2007

Press Release
July 11, 2007

From 16 July to 23 July 2007, the Republic of Bulgaria, specifically Charalitsa National Military Training Complex (NMTC), will host a joint bilateral computer-assisted training exercise, MADARA HORSEMAN 2007.  The exercise will involve 40 U.S. service members from the staff of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard, and 80 Bulgarian service members from the mechanized battalion based in the city of Shumen that is part of Unit 22160-Kazanlak.  The purpose of this exercise is to achieve a higher level of proficiency and coherence in operations planning by the staffs of the participating nations in a Multinational Coalition Force.
 
The exercise scenario focuses on a stability and reconstruction operation conducted by a multinational coalition force in Iraq to help the Iraqi government reconstruct its administrative services and national economy.

The exercise director will be Colonel Jeffrey Holmes, Commander of the 278th ACR, with two co-directors from Bulgaria, Colonel Valentin Burov, Chief of Staff of Unit 22160-Kazanlak, and Colonel Ivan Toninski, Chief of Charalitsa NMTC.

The Distinguished Visitor and Media Day is scheduled for 20 July 2007 at 0900 hrs at Charalitsa NMTC.

Media representatives who would like to cover the exercise must apply for accreditation by 1200 hrs on 17 July 2007 at phone numbers 92 22023, 92 22 056, 92 22058, fax 92 22040, and email address: nvo@abv.bg