TARIN KOT, Afghanistan – Australian Rotation five of Multi National Base Command - Tarin Kot (MNBC-TK 5) handed over responsibility to MNBC-TK 6 during a Transfer of Authority ceremony Jan. 24, 2013.
During the ceremony the U.S. Deputy Commander Combined Team Uruzgan, Col. Douglas C. Cardinale presented coins to the MNBC-TK 5’s team of 24 Royal Australian Air Force personnel for their work in maintaining base security and sustainment at Camp Holland from August 2012 to January 2013.
“Rotation 5’s successfully responded to over 250 security and policing related incidents and conducted over 19 investigations. Base infrastructure was maintained,” said Col. Cardinale.
The CO MNBC-TK 5 Wing Commander Robert Graham said he was proud of his team’s achievements during their deployment.
“I was blessed with a team that was both capable and very close, they were pulled together very quickly but they hit the ground running and have done an exceptional job.” We’ve achieved significant outcomes in our time with our Coalition partners and in particular our contractors,” WGCDR Graham said.
The incoming MNBC-TK 6 Commander, Wing Commander Lee de Winton and team will also have the responsibility for helping to coordinate the upcoming retrograde and redeployment plan as the base is gradually drawn down during 2013.
“MNBC-TK 5 did a fantastic job in posturing the base for reduction and redeployment. It will be a huge challenge, it’s already become clear that my focus will be very different to MNBC-TK 5 but I’m looking forward to it,” WGCDR de Winton said.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the U.S. Commander thanked the Rotation 5 on a great job and for all their hard work and welcomed the incoming team.
“Welcome, Rotation 6, MNBC-TK 6 to the Combined Team Uruzgan Team. I look forward to working with you all. You do have your work cut out for you. But I know you’ll do great things here. I am confident Lee is up to the task and will do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission and make our countries proud,” said Cardinale.