CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - U.S Navy Seabees in Afghanistan transferred authority for the country’s Navy engineering operations mission during a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck March 19.
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, Task Force Anchor, turned over with NMCB 15, Task Force True Grit.
“We would like to with fair winds and following seas to the Runnin’ Roos as they begin their journey home,” said U.S. Army Col. Nicholas Katers, commander, 555th Engineer Brigade, Joint Task Force Triple Nickel. “What you have done in the last six months rivals the great accomplishments of the past. You have made your impact felt across the theater.”
During their deployment, NMCB 133 supported engineering operations throughout the region, directly supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and supporting the U.S. 5th Fleet with construction operations in Tajikistan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The battalion, while operating in six different countries, completed more than 70 projects. Its horizontal construction efforts alone resulted in moving one million cubic meters of earth by pushing more than 18 kilometers of force protection berms and anti-vehicular ditches, clearing fields of fire for roughly 130 acres, re-grading a three kilometer strategic connector road on the side of a steep mountain and constructing a 325 meter causeway. The battalion provided engineering expertise and construction effects in five of the six regional commands for Afghanistan’s International Security Assistance Force.
Throughout its tenure as Task Force Anchor, the battalion conducted two named operation freedom of movement builds, Afghan National Army Engineer development, 17 life, health and safety improvement projects that were instrumental to improving the quality of life and force protection infrastructure for more than 12,000 Marines and soldiers, five coalition forces water well drills, and twice completed a convoy movement of 1,300 km, the farthest Afghanistan ground movement in the history of the naval construction force.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what we have accomplished,” Cmdr. Nicolas Yamodis, NMCB 133 commanding officer told his Seabees. “You are an indelible piece of history.”
Cmdr. Anthony Spindler, NMCB 15 commanding officer, Task Force True Grit, said the task force name was an obvious one for the vast and difficult missions ahead.
“We are the modern day remake of the movie,” said Spindler. “The essence is loyalty: to our family, to ourselves, to our mission.”
With NMCB 15’s assumption of the Afghanistan engineering mission, NMCB 133 will shift its focus to homeport training in preparation for their next deployment.