Photo By Bob Harrison | BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN (June 14, 2016) – An aircraft, an unmanned aerial...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN (June 15, 2016) – Task Force ODIN held a change of command ceremony here yesterday to say farewell to their commander and to welcome a new one. U.S. Army Col. Prescott R. Farris relinquished command to Army Col. Mark A. Colbrook.
Several hundred guests, colleagues, and members of the unit watched as Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, U.S. Forces Afghanistan deputy commander, support, passed the unit colors from Farris to Colbrook symbolizing the transfer of command authority.
Colbrook assumed command of the brigade-sized task force that provides significant intelligence support to the Resolute Support Mission. The commanding officers of the task force subordinate units stood in formation with their respective unit colors and guidons throughout the ceremony.
Bannister spoke glowingly about the accomplishments of the task force and their outgoing commander, “We’re gathered here today to recognize and thank Col. Press Farris for the hard work, sacrifice, and dedicated leadership that he has provided to Task Force ODIN over the last 12 months.”
He added, “Col. Farris was able to obtain a staggering amount of intelligence that not only better enabled the campaign but also improved force protection.
“Under Press’s leadership, the servicemembers, contractors, and civilians of Task Force ODIN have been responsible for delivering intelligence to the warfighter and for helping safeguard coalition and Afghan partners. The actions of this task force have saved hundreds of lives, directly and indirectly.”
Bannister also introduced Colbrook by informing the audience that the new commander was not new to the task force and that he had served in Afghanistan before, “We’re also here to welcome Col. Mark Colbrook back to Task Force ODIN, he was here before, as he takes command of this renowned brigade.”
He continued, “We welcome another organized, experienced professional in Col. Mark Colbrook who is no stranger to this esteemed organization. He served as the task force DCO [deputy commanding officer] in 2011.
“Mark, welcome back. We have the utmost confidence that Task Force ODIN will continue to deliver under your leadership.”
As Bannister stepped from the speaker’s podium on his way back to his seat he extended a firm handshake to Farris, congratulating him on a job well done.
Farris opened his remarks by thanking everyone in attendance. He noted the impressive acapella rendition of the nation anthem and the other music provided by the 10th Mountain Division Band.
He dedicated the day’s ceremony to Mr. Carlos Carrasco who died last year when a C-130 aircraft crashed in Jalalabad killing him and ten other people. Carrasco was an unmanned aerial vehicle mechanic and technician who had worked in Task Force ODIN for a number of years.
Farris also informed the audience that not all Task Force Odin servicemembers and civilians were present at the ceremony, “You will probably no doubt notice there are no troops standing in formation today. As we are assembled here, they remain on point…engaged in the daily fight to provide actual, relevant intelligence to U.S., coalition, and Afghan ground force commanders. Protecting our forces and providing peace and stability in the Afghan region.”
He talked of the statistics the task force had achieved in the past year; number of ground patrols, and aerial mission flown. But, he further stated, “Those numbers mean nothing unless you have the results to go with them.” He emphasized that the most important measure of success was a supported task force call to the TF ODIN TOC [tactical operations center] and stating, “You guys really came through for us on that one.”
Farris welcomed Colbrook back to the task force family and expressed his confidence that the command will be in good hands.
As Colbrook began to speak he expressed a personal thanks to Farris, “…for everything he has done over the last year to posture this command for success, and to go ahead and succeed with the command, and also to prepare me and posture me for success in the future.
“Coming back to this community, the intelligence community Task Force Odin,” he added, “It truly does feel like coming home.
“I’ve been away for a couple years. I’m incredibly happy to be embraced back into it,” Colbrook continued. “I’m honored to be able to work with such incredible professionals that are represented by the flags standing in front of you.
“I am feeling very fortunate to be here. I look forward to being able to enable our operations, to enable our Soldiers and their leaders to be able to do our mission,” he concluded, “And I am looking forward to being able to work with everybody to ensure we both safely make it through the next year, as well as being able to accomplish all of our tasked missions.”
TF ODIN (observe, detect, identify and neutralize) is a brigade-sized element made up of three battalions. TF Sentinel is now one of these battalions, with military and civilians in a joint service organization comprised of several subordinate units, that include aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance task forces, a forward collection battalion, and specialized unit task forces in biometrics, tactical biometrics collection, and a collection material exploitation laboratory.
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2016 01:34 |
| Story ID: | 201155 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 991 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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