Naval Commander Pins on Captain

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole Harmon | Brigadier General Juan G. Ayala, Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) and newly promoted Captain Craig A. Scharton, Commanding Officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24, pose on the quarterdeck of Camp RJ aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq June 1, 2009.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

06.09.2009

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Lloyd 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Brig. Gen. Juan G. Ayala, Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) recently visited Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to promote Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24's Commanding Officer, CDR Craig A. Scharton, to the rank of Captain.

The ceremony was held on the quarterdeck of Camp RJ aboard Al Asad, on June 1, 2009, and in attendance were Sgt. Maj. William Stables and Command Master Chief Tammy R. Heap, the senior enlisted Marine and sailor from 2nd MLG (Fwd), as well as officers and enlisted personnel from NMCB 24.

This is CAPT Scharton's second tour in Iraq as Commanding Officer of a Seabee Battalion. In 2007 he completed a tour here at Al Asad Air Base with NMCB 28. When asked what he thought of this opportunity to complete another tour, CAPT Scharton said that he jumped at the chance. "This is a great opportunity to be able to serve as CO of a Seabee battalion. It is a privilege to lead Seabees in Iraq once again."

CAPT Scharton learned he was selected for promotion approximately one year ago and was grateful to have Brig. Gen. Ayala here for the ceremony. "I was truly honored to have General Ayala travel here to promote me. It is a day that I will never forget."

CAPT Scharton lives in Houston, Texas, and works as a Trade Control Analyst for BP Energy Company. NMCB 24 is a reserve Seabee battalion headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., and is staffed with personnel mobilized from more than 38 states, and is currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 06.09.2009
• Date Posted: 06.09.2009 04:45
• Story ID: 34761
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ