CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 transferred authority of Camp Krutke to NMCB 11 in an afternoon ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Feb. 13.
Cmdr. La Tanya Simms, commanding officer of NMCB 4, and Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, commanding officer of NMCB 11, exchanged salutes before a flag detail replaced NMCB 4’s battalion colors with NMCB 11’s to signify the official transfer of authority.
“I am proud at the way our battalion has handled whatever our supported commanders needed of us,” stated Simms. “The Musa Qal’eh crossing is an excellent example of the positive impact our Seabees have made here in Afghanistan.”
The process of turning the camp over to NMCB 11 began earlier this month when NMCB 11’s advanced party personnel arrived on Camp Leatherneck. The battalions worked together to turn over materials, equipment and tools to NMCB 11, whose delayed party personnel are due to arrive in the near future.
“I am confident that our extensive training in homeport has prepared our Seabees to safely and effectively execute our mission throughout Afghanistan,” stated Aguayo. “All of our Seabees have expressed extreme motivation and enthusiasm to provide support to our coalition forces and our Afghan partners.”
While deployed to Afghanistan, NMCB 11 will conduct general, mobility and survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army (ANA) partnering, and detachment of units in Combined/Joint Operations Area (CJOA)-Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.
Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB 11 has completed deployments to the Pacific and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom since its most recent commissioning on Sept. 14, 2007.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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