NMCB-4 Transfers Authority of Camp Krutke to NMCB-11 in Afghanistan

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Carmichael, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Public Affairs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 transferred authority of Camp Krutke to NMCB-11 in an afternoon ceremony on Camp Krutke, a part of Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan Feb. 13.

Commander La Tanya Simms, commanding officer, NMCB-4 and Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, commanding officer, 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.

Guests of honor were Commanding General, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), Brig. Gen. Michael Dana and Assistant Chief of Staff C-7, Col. Kurt Kempster. Also in attendance were service members representing II Marine Expeditionary Force, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, 30th Naval Construction Regiment, Task Force Leatherneck, and 14th Engineer Battalion.

"I am proud at the way our battalion has handled whatever our supporting commanders needed of us," Simms said. "The Musa Qal'eh crossing is an excellent example of the positive impact our Seabees have made here in Afghanistan."

Kempster and Dana each specifically mentioned the Musa Qal'eh crossing, which links Musa Qal'eh residents with Helmand province's capital, Lashkar Gah, when they praised the accomplishments of NMCB-4.

"We had many junior people - first and second class petty officers and, in one case a third class petty officer - taking on a lot of responsibility in remote areas of Afghanistan, and they really took care of their troops. That's what truly represents the Seabees of this battalion," said Simms in a pre-ceremony interview.

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 who's 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," Aguayo said.

"All of our Seabees have expressed extreme motivation and enthusiasm to provide support to our coalition forces and our Afghan partners."

Originally commissioned June, 28 1942 and subsequently decommissioned and re-commissioned twice since, NMCB-11 has consistently met the overwhelming demand for naval construction forces throughout the world. Since its current commission Sept. 14, 2007 NMCB-11 has completed deployments to the Pacific and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

While deployed to Afghanistan, NMCB-11 will conduct general, mobility, and survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering, and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area-Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.