New commander takes reins at Mehtar Lam PRT

Photo By Daniel Rangel | Air Force Lt. Col. Robert S. Ricci, commander of the incoming Mehtar Lam PRT, takes his unit guidon from Army Col. John Nicholson, the Task Force Spartan commander April 12 at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam. (Photo by Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel)  

04.16.2007

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Air Force Capt. Heather Kekic
Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan — A highly successful era in Laghman provincial development concluded and another began during a transfer of authority ceremony April 12.

Air Force Lt. Col. Brad A. Bredenkamp relinquished command of Provincial Reconstruction Team Mehtar Lam to Air Force Lt. Col. Robert S. Ricci before a mass formation consisting of Airmen and Soldiers from the incoming and outgoing PRTs.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Miller, commander of Air Component Coordination Element; Army Col. John Nicholson, the Task Force Spartan commander; Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore, the Spartan command sergeant major and local government officials attended the transfer of authority.

Ricci, a command pilot from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., with more than 3,500 hours of flight in multiple versions of the C-130 and T-38 aircraft, praised the work of his predecessors and stressed continuity with their efforts during his remarks.

"Today really marks the change of one thing, that being the changeover in personnel at the PRT," Ricci said. "The PRT mission continues to assist the governor and his staff build on the security, reconstruction and economic development in Laghman Province and ultimately, throughout Afghanistan."

Nicholson, whose command includes Laghman Province, welcomed the new team and recognized the achievements of the outgoing team. He also noted the sacrifices that accompanied the accomplishments.

"The work this team accomplished wasn't without costs," Nicholson said. Members of the outgoing PRT lost two Soldiers, they were involved in 23 firefights, and their forward operating base was attacked 12 times, Col. Nicholson said. "Because of their work, Laghman is a safer place and the province is much better off."

During the past year, the Mehtar Lam PRT completed more than 25 reconstruction projects worth more than $1.3 million and initiated additional reconstruction initiatives worth $2.7 million including roads, micro-hydro electric plants, canals, flood protection walls and bridges.

The team provided humanitarian relief for more than 40,000 Afghan families in need and trained and mentored more than 120 Afghan National Police officers in police tactics, professional behavior and ethics.

• Date Taken: 04.16.2007
• Date Posted: 04.16.2007 15:48
• Story ID: 9947