CENTCOM commander tours 'Area of Operation Spartan'

Photo By Daniel Rangel | Navy Adm. William J. Fallon (left), Army Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez (right) and Army Col. John Nicholson walk to a meeting of key Task Force Spartan leaders, April 25, at Jalalabad Airfield.  

JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN

04.27.2007

Story by Pfc. Daniel Rangel 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The new U.S. Central Command leader toured the Task Force Spartan area of responsibility in northeast Afghanistan during an informative visit conducted, April 25.

Navy Adm. William J. Fallon toured such Spartan facilities as Jalalabad Airfield, Forward Operating Base Asadabad, a firebase on the Pech Road and the Korengal Outpost during his information-gathering and troop-greeting mission.

The admiral met with Army Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-82, Army Col. John Nicholson, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division commander and key staffers and leaders of other governmental agencies during his visit to Jalalabad Airfield. He received briefings and exchanged ideas with leaders.

Fallon, along with his entourage and escorts visited some of the most daunting terrain and austere bases in the region.

Later in the afternoon, Fallon met with key leaders including Army Lt. Col. Chris Cavoli, commander of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mtn. Div., and Navy Cmdr. Larry F. LeGree, commander of the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team. The admiral received informative briefings from the commanders and subordinate leaders, toured bases and area facilities, and met with Soldiers and Sailors.

"We were very happy to see the CENTCOM commander," said Army Maj. Eric P. Zenk, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mtn. Div. public affairs officer. "It means a lot to the Soldiers to see senior leaders out there with them taking an interest in their mission and their welfare. We're proud of the things we're accomplishing in the northeast and we're very happy to show Admiral Fallon some of the things we're doing."

Fallon assumed command of CENTCOM from Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, March 16, at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla.

"We have been entrusted with a great responsibility in this part of the world," Fallon said when taking command of CENTCOM. "And despite the challenges, we have a lot going for us. The five branches serve so well around the world, around the clock. We have the support of the American people who want us to succeed."

Nominated for the CENTCOM post by Pres. George W. Bush in January and confirmed by the Senate in February, Fallon is the first naval officer to assume command of CENTCOM and now leads more than 200,000 service members.

The Villanova University graduate was raised in Merchantville, N.J., and received his commission through the Navy ROTC Program. Fallon began Naval aviation service flying in the RA-5C Vigilante with a combat deployment to Vietnam.

CENTCOM is responsible for U.S. military forces in a region of over 6.5 million square miles and 27 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Pakistan.

• Date Taken: 04.27.2007
• Date Posted: 04.27.2007 16:16
• Story ID: 10159
• Location: JALALABAD, AF