MC1 Michael Gomez, NMCB 3
Cmdr. Laurie Scott, commanding officer, NMCB 3, salutes as the battalions colors are passed by CMDCM Joe Arnold during a change-of-command ceremony, Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., June 19. (Photo by MC1 Michael Gomez/150619-N-YG415-294)
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NCMB) 3 welcomed a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony, Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., June 19.
Cmdr. Laurie Scott, previously assigned as the operations officer for Naval Construction Group 1 and the 30
th Naval Construction Regiment, relieved Cmdr. Gordon E. Meek, who will transfer to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
NMCB 3's outgoing commanding officer, Cmdr. Gordon E. Meek (left), is presented with the Meritorious Service Medal by Capt. Christopher M. Kurgan, commander, NCG 1, following a change-of-command ceremony, Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., June 19. (Photo by MC1 Michael Gomez/150619-N-YG415-294)
This scene and this moment only existed only in my mind for many years, a true dream said Meek. A dream that has fulfilled every expectation of a command and so much more. It was such a rich emotional ride, all engrossing and all consuming to have led this battalionI would have not traded it for anything.
The change of command between the two men was solidified by the passing of the battalion colors from Meek to Scott, a tradition among Naval Construction Force units. After the passing of the colors, Scott addressed the nearly 600 Seabees of NMCB 3 for the first time as commanding officer.
I am humbled at the opportunity to join this battalion where I did my first Seabee tour. I look forword to leading this unbeatable team, said Scott. I pledge my total commitment in supporting the troops, their families, and to the country we proudly serve.
One of the first battalions commissioned at the start of World War II, NMCB 3 has the ability to build and fight anywhere in the world as either a full battalion or as a group of autonomous detachments completing critical engineering and construction missions simultaneously.
The Better Than Best battalion is preparing for deployment to the Pacific region scheduled later this summer. NMCB 3 provides combatant commanders and Navy component commanders with combat-ready warfighters capable of general engineering, construction and limited combat engineering across the full range of military operations.