By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Scott B. Boyle
GULFPORT, Miss - The 25th Naval Construction Regiment (25 NCR) was decommissioned, and the 20th Seabee Readiness Group (20 SRG) was renamed Naval Construction Group TWO (NCG 2) in a historic ceremony, Feb. 26, 2013, at Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Miss.
The ceremony marked significant changes to the command structure at the Gulfport Seabee base, but not to the mission. NCG 2 will continue the mission currently performed by 20 SRG, providing Seabee units the highest possible state of readiness to provide engineering support to the Navy, Marine Corps, and other forces in military operations, to construct and maintain base facilities, to repair battle damaged facilities, to conduct defensive operations as required, and to meet disaster preparedness and recovery missions.
“This is the natural organizational progression following 10 plus years combat, associated forces structure changes,” said Rear Adm. Mark A. Handley, Commander, First Naval Construction Division. “With a future focus, I am confident that the improved integration at the Type Commander-level will improve our alignment within the Navy, and we will be better positioned to support our forces.”
Within NCG 2 is the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment (22 NCR),which Handley said is a fully deployable Battle Staff and command element capable of providing command and control of expeditionary engineer forces in support of Navy Component Commanders, Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, other joint task forces, and expeditionary forces across the full range of military operations.
Part of the ceremony included two changes of command, with Capt. Stephen Revelas assuming command of 22 NCR from Capt. Darius Banaji, and Banaji assuming command of 20 SRG from Capt. Frederick Burgess. 20 SRG was renamed NCG 2 following the official change of command. Burgess remains the commanding officer of NCBC Gulfport.
The 25 NCR was reactivated Sept. 14, 2007. The “Overlord” regiment’s Sailors and civilian staff supported Operation Enduring Freedom, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, as Task Force Overlord during deployments in 2009 and 2011. During these two deployments, the Regiment served as the command and control element for 19 joint service battalions and units, made up of more than 9,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. Task Force Overlord was vital to the engineering mission in Afghanistan, repairing roads, finding and destroying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and supporting NATO’s key Freedom of Movement mission.
The 25th NCR provided direct support to FOURTH Fleet, FIFTH Fleet and Combined Task Force 56’s strategic objectives by shaping, planning and developing Seabee deployments across these regions. The Regiment also directly impacted the local community in Gulfport, and at other installations around the country, through its coordination of the Construction Training Exercise (CTX) program, which supported facility improvements on military bases nationwide. The Regiment provided vital operational logistics support for Underwater Construction Team 1 and Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 during relief efforts in Haiti following that country’s devastating earthquake, Jan. 12, 2010. The 22NCR will assume 25 NCR’s responsibilities.
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2014 14:29 |
| Story ID: | 146189 |
| Location: | GULFPORT, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Historic ceremony marks changes to the future of Seabees, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT