Base Command Group changes hands aboard Al Asad

Photo By Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez | Navy Capt. Tim McMahon, the oncoming commanding officer of the Al Asad Air Base command group, addresses subordinate commanders during a change of command ceremony held aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 21, 2009. The ceremony was held to relieve Navy Capt. Steven D. Kornatz and bring in Navy Capt. Tim McMahon.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

03.24.2009

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – During a brief ceremony inside the massive Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, control of the Base Command Group transferred between Navy Capts. Steven Kornatz and Tim McMahon, Feb. 21.

Kornatz, who has commanded the BCG since spring 2008, surrendered command of the unit to McMahon in the presence of key BCG staff members and Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, commanding general of Multi National Force-West.

"It was a good deployment," said Kornatz, who volunteered for the assignment aboard Al Asad while serving at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. "Everyone worked well together, and it was a fine deployment for me at the end of a pretty long career."

Kornatz's tenure aboard Al Asad gave him responsibility for the myriad commands that provide basic services to the organizations that call the air base home. Some of the sections and support units under the BCG include public works, supply, legal, information systems and religious ministry, all of which complement the organic support sections brought to Iraq by the deployed units. The BCG comprises nearly 1,000 personal, including individuals from all braches of the military and a good number of civilian contractors.

"Our goal is to continue the great work of those that came before us," said McMahon, addressing the audience after taking the stage from Kornatz. "We're looking to help Al Asad grow and mature as a base of military operations. I'm really honored to be here."

McMahon, a graduate of the University of Maryland and a Naval aviator, came to Al Asad Air Base after serving as head of the Navy Rotary Wing Weapons School at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev.

Both sailors commented on the uniqueness of their respective assignments to the BCG.

"It's a unique opportunity to work with so many different people from so many different commands and services," said McMahon. "There's just nothing like this."

"It was an odd deployment for most of the command group," added Kornatz, "because we're Navy personnel with Army pre-deployment training."

Because they conducted their training with the Army, the majority of the Sailors and Airmen in the BCG wear the same digitized Army Combat Uniforms worn by soldiers, which is an odd sight to many Marines on Al Asad who have grown accustomed to Sailors wearing their own Marine-pattern camouflage uniforms.

In his remarks, McMahon went on the address the BCG's commitment to the local Iraqi community by creating on-base job opportunities for Iraqi citizens.

"We are also looking to employ Iraqi contractors more frequently so we can help the local economy," said McMahon.

According to Army Capt. Joshua Daniels, a staff officer with the BCG, McMahon's focus will be to ensure a high quality of life for all service members aboard Al Asad and that services and safety standards remain constant to support the deployed war fighters.

• Date Taken: 03.24.2009
• Date Posted: 03.24.2009 06:30
• Story ID: 31525
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ