Ultramarathonist Andrei Roșu and actor Gavril Patru, called to mobilisation: “I was not chipped nor sent to the front”, “Ignetes, wails, stumbling blocks”

Andrei Roșu, former endurance athlete, tells how the MOBEX Bucharest-Ilfov mobilization exercise went. In the last 24 hours, more people show their fears, others offer explanations and practical conclusions about the organization and purpose of the exercise.

Facebook / Andrei Roșu – reservists called up following the mobilization exercise MOBEX Bucharest–IF

Andrei Roșu, former endurance athlete and reservist, told in a post published on social networks how his presentation went at the MOBEX Bucharest-Ilfov mobilization exercise, organized between October 12-20, 2025.

Andrei Roșu describes his experience at the mobilization exercise

“This morning at 7:55 a.m. I conscientiously presented myself at the military unit mentioned in the reservist call-up order”writes Red. He says he stood in line with about 100 people outside the military facility on the opposite side of town, nearly an hour away from home.

After more than two hours, the queue completely dissipated. “Everyone probably assumed, like me, that 08:00-20:00 is the actual exercise time”Roșu notes.

The former athlete says that he took with him a backpack with supplies, a thermos with tea, water and a portable charger. “let it be”he jokes.

The process was simple: presentation of documents, measurements and filling in some forms. “How tall are you and what's your shoe size?”the representatives of the unit asked him. “Then I was measured around the head – 54, and at the chest – 50. Glad that I was not chipped or sent to the front, I started for the office”says Roșu.

From the public discussions that have emerged in the last 24 hours, a mixture of misinformation, concern and rational explanations can be seen. Some posts signaled panic: mobilizing would mean sending reservists to war, while others firmly explained that MOBEX is an annual, usually one-day, countywide mobilization exercise designed to test procedures and logistics. There have also been criticisms of short notice, personal grievances related to family or age, and conspiracy theories about the authorities' involvement, but there have also been voices retorting that exercises must simulate real conditions, including short notice. The most serious problem reported by participants was the lack of weapons training for some reservists, a practical issue that should be remedied by additional organization and training.

What could be improved? Roșu suggests, from his post, three simple directions: clearer communication in the order of summons, minimal equipment and resources for practical procedures, such as sufficient tailoring materials for fitting out, and ideally options to resolve formalities online or remotely when possible.

So the former performance athlete sends the same message seen in other public reactions: exercise is useful, but it must achieve its goal with efficiency and respect for people's time.

Gavril Pătru after MOBEX: “Do we have an army? We do. They are few, but good”

The MOBEX Bucharest–Ilfov mobilization exercise, held between October 12 and 20, 2025, brought hundreds of conscripted reservists to military units to update data and test mobilization procedures. Among them was the actor Gavril Patru, who published an extensive post on Facebook, which went viral, about how the day went.

Gavril Patru, in reservist uniform, during the MOBEX / Facebook mobilization exercise

“At 07.00, in all the congestion and horns on the belt, I arrived somewhere where no one cursed and no one was in a hurry. The military unit and in the surrounding perimeter, order, discipline, parking spaces, a soldier at each corner, who spoke beautifully”writes the actor.

He describes the atmosphere among the reservists, most of whom are in their 50s: “All over 50, only about two without a belly, missing teeth for the vast majority, grandfathers, fathers. Smoking area, sandwiches, water, clean ecological toilets, lots of patience, new outfits tailored to each reservist, medical triage, clean coach, testing ground, training.”

Patru also notes details from the shooting exercises, recounting with humor the reactions of those present: “'They put us to bed, we lie down, if we get up we get up again?' Gasps, wails, slopes at stumbling blocks.”
After the practical test, the reservists were taken to the rear, where the actor noted a correct organization: “The popota with the food in the boiler – good, the cook as corpulent, the portions of healthy people.”

In a self-deprecating tone, he draws a first conclusion: “If we go to war with these guys, the enemy will find us all lined up nice and neat in line to release the prostate every 15 minutes.”
But the second conclusion is serious: “Professional military really are professionals. They explained everything to me in luxurious detail, so that I didn't feel like a piece of wood. We have a real professional army, yes, few, but good and trained, and who, perhaps most importantly, gave me confidence personally.”

In his post, the actor emphasizes the respect for military personnel and the spirit of camaraderie discovered during the exercise: “Therefore, at the end of the day, I did not remain a dead wood, like the wood that was the place to draw my soul.”

The photo published by Gavril Patru shows him in military uniform, holding a gun, with a natural setting in the background. The actor adds with humor: “I was trying to imitate the way I saw the Special Ops guys. Except they had short-barreled guns…it didn't quite work out for me.”