Photo By Todd Lyman | U.S. Army Col. Alfred A. Pantano, Jr., commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...... read more read more
KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bid farewell to the Transatlantic District North and the unit’s commander during the last year, Col. Alfred A. Pantano, Jr., under a bright Afghanistan sky Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Michael Eyre, Transatlantic Division commander, hosted and presided over the colors-casing ceremony.
TAN began as an area office. In late 2002 USACE received a request to assist the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan (OMC-A) and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) 180 in their mission to develop facilities for the new Afghan National Army (ANA). The Transatlantic Program Center (TAC) responded quickly by assembling and deploying a team to Kabul to help develop a master plan for standing up the ANA’s Central Corps. Their arrival in October 2002 established the roots of the future Afghan Area Office (AAO) and became the foundation for the Afghanistan Engineer District (AED). AED was renamed Transatlantic District North in 2011.
During TAN’s final days, the district was comprised of approximately 370 civilian, 32 military and 161 contactor personnel located in three area offices and 14 resident offices. At its peak TAN maintained nearly 550 professionals on the rolls. This month TAN contracted to two area offices (Bagram and Kabul) and ten resident offices in the process of forming the new district, Transatlantic Afghanistan District.
More than 150 people assembled at Camp Phoenix Patriot Square. The color guard presented the district colors. TAN Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald F. Flubacher and Pantano cased the colors by rolling the flag on the staff and enclosing it with a sheath. The general received the cased colors from the colonel, and passed the colors to Flubacher, who remounts the colors in the color sergeant’s harness.
The order directing the inactivation of TAN was read. “By order of the commanding general, Transatlantic Division, the following action is directed. Transatlantic District North Afghanistan is inactivated and assigned to control, headquarters, Transatlantic Division, United States Army Corps of Engineers effective 10 July 2013.”
The colors will be preserved in the event the district is reactivated.
Eyre explained to the assembly, “This ceremony reflects the rich traditions of the Army and the Army way of life and to formally say farewell to a highly principled, and experienced and successful leader, Col Al Pantano. Today’s ceremony represents recognition and commemoration combined with change and continuity. We recognize the outstanding efforts and delivered results of this district and we welcome its historic accomplishments.”
He congratulated the command and complimented its leadership, which he said has led this team through what is arguably the most difficult year in a deployed district’s history ... preparing for the end of mission.
The general said, “While previous commanders had the luxury of focusing mostly on the present, knowing there was still time, TAN’s team was forced to concentrate on the ‘here and now’ and with one eye looking out 18 months to two years. TAN has prepared TAA for success.”
Reflecting on the command’s accomplishments, Eyre stated, “Col. Al Pantano has brought you safely and successfully to this day of transition, a transition that signifies a closure of a nine-year chapter and the standing up of a new district. We are all part of an historic Army Corps of Engineers event today. Col. Pantano did an absolutely superb job. He led this team of nearly 550 military and civilian professionals representing so many others in executing a $3.3 billion construction program in support of the U.S. and coalition strategy in Afghanistan. With Al’s guidance, and keen insights the TAN became a more flexible US Army Corps of Engineer contingency organization.”
Pantano stated that he was honored and privileged to serve with TAN in Afghanistan and thanked Eyre. He wished blessings for the team members and their families and thanked them for their service.
The ceremony concluded as all sang the Engineer song “Essayons” and Army song, “Army Goes Rolling Along.”
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2013 10:38 |
| Story ID: | 110164 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Hometown: | JACKSONVILLE, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 761 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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