AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Navy Reserve personnel aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, were recently visited by Vice Adm. Dirk J. Debbink, the Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force.
Joining Debbink for the March 13, 2009, visit was Master Chief Petty Officer Ronney A. Wright, the Navy Reserve force master chief, and the pair conducted a information brief with the reserve Sailors followed by a question and answer session at the Al Asad theater. In attendance were Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 27 and 24 as well as other Sailors supporting coalition efforts in the Al Anbar province for Multi-National Force — West.
Debbink and Wright fielded questions on a variety of topics such base and unit restructuring, as well as billeting, supply, and pay challenges for Reservists. Vice Adm. Debbink presented a number of Sailors with a Chief of Navy Reserve coin, and thanked the participants for their thoughts and questions, advising them that new information and ideas allowed for the further enhancement of the Navy Reserves.
Force Master Chief Wright addressed the importance of small unit leadership and the effectiveness of utilizing the chain of command, and both men stressed the value of communication and emphasized that change and improvement occurs through open communication and implementation of new ideas.
Vice Admiral Debbink then toured the base, taking time to visit Camp RJ, the Seabee compound aboard Al Asad Air Base, where his first stop was at Memorial Wall, which pays homage to those Sailors who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. During his visit to Camp RJ, Debbink spoke with individuals from both Seabee battalions, welcoming the members of NMCB-24 and wishing warm congratulations and a safe journey home to the Sailors of NMCB-27, which is in the final days of its seven-month tour.