NMCB 3 Transfers Authority to NMCB 1 in Rota, Spain

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120816-23
8/16/2012

By Morgan Over, Naval Station Rota, Spain Public Affairs Office and Lt. j.g. Sean Jin, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif. transferred authority of Camp Mitchell and ongoing Seabee missions throughout Europe and Africa to NMCB 1, homeported in Gulfport, Miss., during a transfer of authority (TOA) ceremony held aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, Aug. 15.

Commander Scott Raymond, commanding officer NMCB 3, exchanged salutes with Cmdr. Chad Brooks, commander NMCB 1, in front of Capt. Bradley Martin, commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 68, during the ceremony. The ceremony marked the official end of NMCB 3's deployment to Europe and Africa, which began in February.

Martin spoke of the work NMCB 3 completed during its deployment and future Seabee projects.

"You've overcome all kinds of adversity and done it in a very, very professional manner," said Martin. "I truly appreciate the work you've done."

Martin spoke specifically to NMCB 1 during the ceremony as well.

"NMCB 1, you come with a great reputation, and I think you're going to do some magnificent work out here."

Brooks spoke of the guidance NMCB 3 provided during the turnover and said it will make the unit more efficient during its deployment.

"I couldn't be more proud than I am here today," said Brooks. "We're ready to do whatever our country asks us to do. To win our nation's wars, to invest in people and excel as a team, to manage risk, work safely and achieve high quality and do it with the finest character."

Before the TOA, a weeklong inspection and review was conducted of all equipment, supplies, projects, facilities and civil engineering support equipment.

Along with the equipment and supply turnover, NMCB 1 relieved NMCB 3 of ongoing construction project responsibilities, including placing a water line in Zagreb, Croatia, construction of a gazebo for the air terminal here and drilling water wells in Ethiopia.