New commander takes helm of Marine air command, control group in Afghanistan

Photo By Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | Lt. Col. John R. Siary, the new commanding officer of Marine Air Control Group 28, speaks to his Marines after taking command of the group from Lt. Col. Thomas Bajus for the second half of the group's yearlong deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Aug. 31. "I am very excited to be out here and to get the job done," said Siary, a native of Albany, N.Y. "The first rotation of Marines did excellent out here and now we are going to build upon that and keep up the good work."  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

08.31.2011

Story by Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The deployed Marines and sailors of Marine Air Control Group 28 welcomed a new commanding officer and sergeant major in a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Aug. 31.

To support the group’s yearlong commitment to operations in Afghanistan, its Marines and sailors deployed in two rotations of about seven months each.

“I want to congratulate the first half of Marines on the outstanding job they did out here,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Bajus, the outgoing commanding officer of MACG-28. “I know that this next group of Marines will take it to the next level.”

Bajus relinquished command of the deployed Marines to Lt. Col. John R. Siary in the ceremony at the group’s headquarters compound.

“I am very excited to be out here and to get the job done,” said Siary, a native of Albany, N.Y. “The first rotation of Marines did excellent [work] out here and now we are going to build upon that and keep up the good work.”

The Marines of MACG-28 are deployed out of East Coast Marine Corps air stations, including Cherry Point and New River in North Carolina, and Beaufort, S.C. The group provides airspace coordination, air traffic control, radar surveillance, communications and other command and control support for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), the air combat element for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in southwestern Afghanistan.

“I feel good about being deployed out here,” said Cpl. Steven R. Hall, a supply clerk with MACG-28, and a native of Houston. “I’m glad I have the chance to be out here and to feel like I’m doing something for the better.”

• Date Taken: 08.31.2011
• Date Posted: 09.06.2011 05:08
• Story ID: 76504
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF