S.Atlantic : US BASE COMMANDERS IN FALKLANDS VISIT BEFORE CHANGE OF COMMAND
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 13.07.2005 (Article Archived on 10.08.2005)

A change of command ceremony took place at the US Base on Ascension Island on Tuesday, 12 July 2005 when Lt. Col Kevin Barker handed over his command as Detachment 2 45th Operational Group Commander to Major Eric Jackson.

Photos (c) J. Brock (FINN) Major Jackson and Lt. Col Barker say thank-you to Commodore Ian Moncrieff for the outstanding trip to the Falklands.

US BASE COMMANDERS IN FALKLANDS VISIT BEFORE CHANGE OF COMMAND

By J. Brock (FINN)

Lt. Col Barker (Left) and Major Jackson (right)

Col. Thompson presents Lt. Col Barker with his Meritorious Service Medal. TSGT Sholtis is in the background.

MSGT Carter, left and TSGT Sholtis, right

A change of command ceremony took place at the US Base on Ascension Island on Tuesday, 12 July 2005 when Lt. Col Kevin Barker handed over his command as Detachment 2 45^th Operational Group Commander to Major Eric Jackson.  The ceremony began with words of welcome by the Narrator, Tech Sgt. Carter, who also gave a brief explanation about what a change of command ceremony was. Some of the Ascension guests included The Hon Mr. Andrew Kettlewell, the Administrator, Mrs Bernadette Kettlewell and Katie Kettlewell, Flt. Lt. Keith Irving, Acting Commander of RAF Ascension, Mr. Mike Hughes, Station Manager for the US Base, Island Councillors, the Hon. Mr. Johnny Hobson, the Hon. Mr. Geoff Jones, the Hon Mr. Lawson Henry and the Hon. Mrs. Iva Henry, Canon Clive Duncan, Vicar of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ginny Duncan and Betty Clingham.

After the arrival of the official party, Canon Clive Duncan recited invocation prayers and asked for blessings and protection for departing Base Commander Barker.  He also said prayers for the new Base Commander, Eric Jackson.

Col. David D. Thompson, visiting from Patrick Air Force Base in Florida presented Lt. Col. Barker with a Meritorious Service Award.  Tech Sgt. Sholtis acted as Proffer during the presentation.  The award was presented to Lt. Col Barker because he distinguished himself with outstanding service as Base Commander, Detachment 2 45^th Operations Group on Ascension Auxiliary Airfield. 

Some of the things he achieved were the relocation of base boundaries, and provided aid to the Ascension Island Government to complete the task.  Most importantly for ascension Islanders, he allowed the first civilian flight to land at Wideawake Airfield after the successful negotiations between Britain and the United States paved the way for civilian charter flights.  US Military, under Lt. Col.’s leadership were allowed to travel to Ascension Island and oversaw 10 launch attempts from Cape Canaveral from Ascension Island.  He’s also overseen project funds of $10.2 Million towards a desalination plant that won an environmental excellence award.  He’s also been an excellent advocate of vehicle and traffic safety with a record drop of 80% of speeding and seatbelt violations on the base.  Besides all that, he supported visiting dignitaries including 2 Vice Presidents, Governors and Ambassadors.  He’s also contributed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by leading the detection of illegal detonations while on the Island.

In his remarks Col. David. D. Thompson, Commander of the 45^th Operations Group at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida welcomed everyone.  He mentioned that the Unit on Ascension was unique in that all of it was present on Ascension Island.  He praised the Unit for doing a tremendous amount of work with very limited resources.  He also mentioned that interaction with the local community was a key part of making things work.  “If you ask Lt. Col. Barker what was his greatest accomplishment and greatest satisfaction, he won’t talk about the launches or the VIP visits… but the relationships that he had with the civilian members of this community,” Col. Thompson said.

Included in Col. Thompson’s remarks was a brief description of Lt. Col. Barker’s career as well as that of his relief, Major Eric Jackson.  After these remarks Col. Thompson executed the change of command by passing the Detachment’s standard from Lt. Col. Barker to Major Johnson. 

After the change of command it was the turn of Lt. Col Kevin Barker to say adieu to Ascension.  He especially thanked Canon Clive Duncan for his ministry.  He also praised the small-town family atmosphere that he wouldn’t be getting at his next posting in California.  Towards the end of his remarks he mentioned that the Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Commodore Ian Moncrieff had invited him and Major Eric Jackson to the Falkland Islands for a few days last week and that he had enjoyed the visit and that it was the perfect end to his time here.

In his remarks, Major Eric Jackson said that one of the greatest honours was the opportunity to work with a community of this magnitude and that he looked forward with a great deal of pleasure to work with Andrew Kettlewell and his wife as well as the RAF on Ascension.  He added that he considered the people he already met were friends and it was great meeting them.

After the ceremony was over Major Jackson, his wife, Karen, Col Thompson and Lt. Col Barker formed a receiving line and all present greeted them, said good-byes and congratulated Maj. Jackson on his new command.  An excellent finger catered by the Commissary buffet then followed in the Volcano Club.

As for that trip to the Falklands – it included a trip to Sea Lion Island, a tour of MPA and a visit to Stanley.  Both men enjoyed it immensely.