By MC1 Charles Panter, NMCB 4 PAO
Cmdr. Kemit Spears (second from left), commanding officer, NMCB 1, salutes Cmdr. Jeff Lengkeek, commanding officer, NMCB 4, as the responsibility for construction operation in the Pacific transitions during a relief in place/transfer of authority ceremony on board Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 16. Photos by MC1 Charles Panter
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 relieved NMCB 1 during a relief in place/transfer of authority ceremony on board Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 16.
NMCB 1 is the last battalion from Gulfport, Miss., that will be stationed in the Pacific as this theater of operations will now strictly be relieved by NMCBs stationed out of Port Hueneme, Calif.
Thank you, NMCB 1, said Cmdr. Jeff Lengkeek, commanding officer, NMCB 4. Your hard work and dedication the last six months will be a tough act to follow. I assure you that [NMCB 4] is up to the task. We have the watch.
Cmdr. Kemit Spears, commanding officer, NMCB 1, expressed his thoughts of the deployment and thanked NMCB 4 for their efforts during turnover.
We have done well, said Spears. From Cambodia to Timor-Leste, we can redeploy with the satisfaction of a job well done. The turnover has shown the level of dedication of NMCB 4 and [that] they embody the Can Do spirit. The Pacific is in good hands.
NMCB 4 now oversees detachment sites in Cambodia, South Korea, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Diego Garcia, San Clemente Island and China Lake, Calif. The battalion is deployed to the Pacific area of responsibility in support of operations spanning providing humanitarian assistance to strengthening U.S. and foreign relations through construction projects.
CE3 Jordan Short, NMCB 4, attaches the battalion s sign to the headquarters building signifying that NMCB 4 has taken charge of construction operations in the Pacific, Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 16.