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Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah Completes Transfer of Authority Ceremony

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS121031-04
10/31/2012

By Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup, Provincial Reconstruction Team-Farah Public Affairs

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Navy leaders conducted a transfer of authority at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Farah in Farah province Afghanistan, Oct. 31.

Cmdr. Thomas Sheppard, commanding officer of Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah, turned over authority of the PRT to Cmdr. Louis McCray during a ceremony attended by Commander, Regional Command West, Italian Brig. Gen. Dario Ranieri.

Sheppard and his team have spent the past year training and executing their mission in western Afghanistan to train, advise, and assist Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district, and provincial levels. The team's leadership made a significant impact in the province, working directly with provincial level officials as line liaisons to work through budgetary issues and support development within the province.

"I've been continually impressed by the level of engagement of each member of our team during deployment," said Sheppard. "They were tasked with a challenging and important job and they have executed their mission well."

Ranieri, who recently took over responsibility as the regional commander, said he was impressed with the work of the PRT.

"I know that during the last nine months you have been resourceful and tenacious in achieving our common goals," said Ranieri. "Your willingness and dedication to working with security forces was an indispensable pillar of our mission here in Farah."

McCray said he looks forward to the opportunity to build on the foundation and successes of the outgoing team.

"Our team has worked diligently to prepare for our mission, and we couldn't ask for a better foundation to work from than the one that Tom's team laid for us. All of us are looking forward to learning the culture in Farah and working hand-in-hand with local Afghans to be a positive influence," said McCray.

PRT Farah's mission is to train, advise, and assist Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district, and provincial levels in Farah Province, Afghanistan. Their civil-military team is comprised of members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.