NEW ORLEANS -- “How many Marines do you know that have been to Transylvania?” asked Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Lassandrello, an instructor with noncommissioned officer development detachment, Black Sea Rotational Force 12.

This rhetorical question may very well summarize the unique deployment the Gunnery Sgt. and the members of his unit embarked on through 19 countries and 17 exercises.

The 350 Marines and sailors of BSRF 12 returned home Aug. 22, following a deployment that took them from the snow-capped mountains of Georgia to the picturesque Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania.

“Our Marines are living the ‘any clime, any place mantra’ of the Marine Corps,” said Lt. Col. Richard Coates, commanding officer, BSRF 12.

The Marines and sailors of BSRF 12 were an amalgamation of assets pulled from over 30 different units from California to New York with the command and ground combat elements originating from 4th Reconnaissance Bn., 4th Marine Division.

BSRF 12 deployed to Eastern Europe with the mission of building bonds and improving cooperation between United States forces and those of her partner nations in the Baltic, Black Sea and Caucasus regions. To ensure this mission, the Marines and sailors of the rotational force, composed chiefly of Reserve Marines, conducted a wide range of operations including military to military training, community relations and noncommissioned officer development courses.

“This training is a great opportunity to exchange information about our tactics and enhance interoperability for future missions,” said, platoon sergeant, Staff Sgt. Kirby Fanus.

Training conducted by BSRF 12 highlighted the flexible nature of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

“One day we are doing a night combat jump with the Bulgarians and the next we’re performing an amphibious landing with our partners in the Baltics,” said Coates.

BSRF 12 expanded its impact outside of the traditional military scope by conducting a multitude of community relations projects throughout the deployment. The Marines and sailors of the Special-Purpose MAGTF could be found renovating schools in Yambol, Bulgaria, introducing recycling programs in rural Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania and mentoring orphaned children in Constanta.

“It’s good to have the Marines around to set the example,” said Don Marco, a Catholic priest and orphanage administrator, through an interpreter. “To see you out here in uniform is like a fairy tale come true for these kids.”

Getting to and from these locations could have been a tricky situation if it weren’t for the nearly 50 Marines and two KC-130 Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 452 and VMGR-234, both of Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, that made up the aviation combat element.

“The ACE is critical to the BSRF 12 mission because of the transportation aspect,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Pearse G. Kearns, maintenance chief. “We supply the airlift to move personnel and equipment at a much faster pace with nearly limitless capabilities.”

The noncommissioned officer development detachment often made good use of the aviation assets at their disposal. The NCO development team traveled to over 15 countries mentoring the enlisted leaders of Eastern Europe.

“This training is important to them because they see American Marines as the most elite fighting force in the world,” said, Cpl. Matthew Fuentes, assistant team leader and squad sniper. “They’re very receptive to everything we say to them because we have proven ourselves on the battlefield and off. Some have seen it on TV but they all see it in person now by how we carry ourselves.”

Leaders across the Marine Corps recognize the importance of rotational deployments such as BSRF and Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa.

“I think our presence is important around the world, I think our relationship building is incredibly important and I do believe countries want us there for various reasons,” said, Lt. Gen. Steven Hummer, commander Marine Forces Reserve, Marine Forces North.

With funding secured until 2017 the Black Sea Rotational Force will continue to send Marines to Eastern Europe to bolster relationships and deter transnational threats in the ever evolving region.