September 16, 2010
NMCB-14 Change of Command
See the published version of this story in Thursday's (9/23/2010) edition of the Jax Air News or click this link
NMCB-14 welcomed a new Commanding Officer and Master Chief at a customary Change of Command ceremony on Sunday, September 12 at NAS Jacksonville.
Capt. (Sel) Sean McDonell relieved Capt. Joseph Hinson III of his two-year duty as Commanding Officer of NMCB-14. McDonell is a Seabee Combat Warfare Officer and registered Professional Engineer in the state of South Carolina. His most recent duty station was as the Operations Officer at the THIRD Naval Construction Regiment in Atlanta. He was responsible for the operations of three NMCB’s and preparing the regiment for deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Preparation for deployment and ensuring that the battalion is combat ready will be a part of McDonell’s focus for NMCB-14 as well.
McDonell also discussed two additional areas that are important to him and will be a part of his focus for NMCB-14. He said that he is a big proponent of mentoring and will be leaning heavily on the senior members of the battalion to help in the development of the junior members. He will also be stressing the “health and tone of the unit with specific emphasis on family readiness to make sure that the families of our service members are taken care of.”
This focus is shared by Master Chief William McCrae, who relieved Master Chief William Travis of his duty station with NMCB 14 on Sunday. McCrae, whose most recent duty station was with NAVFAC HQ in Washington D.C., agreed that a main goal for the battalion is to ensure that they are ready for the next deployment. Along with this, McCrae hopes to facilitate individual members of NMCB-14 in their naval journey.
“For me, whether it is with NMCB-14 or anywhere I go, my goal is always to advance those whose goal is to progress their future with the Navy,” he said.
Both men are optimistic about their time with NMCB-14 and their role in the development of the battalion.
“I really stress what heroes the folks of the Navy Reserve are from the standpoint of the balance that they have to create between their civilian careers and their service,” McDonell said. “They are giving up a lot to do this and have made a choice to be a part of something bigger than themselves and that deserves respect.”
McDonell’s predecessor, Capt. Hinson, a native of Jacksonville, said that he will miss the regular visits to the area, as well as his interactions with the Seabees, as he moves on to his next duty station at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., as branch manager of Contingency Engineering Management Detachment, Naval Forces, Central Command.
“More than anything I will miss my conversations with the Seabees; standing around the ‘Chuck Wagon’ a barbecue pit on our compound, talking to the Seabees, learning about them, their families and their concerns,” Hinson said. “They are a group of true American patriots, in every sense of the word, and I will always remember, and be inspired by, their dedication to our mission, the Navy and our nation.”
During his time at NMCB-14, Hinson oversaw a variety of projects, including a handicapped beach access ramp at NS Mayport; several projects for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Service in Douglas, Ariz., and Columbus, N.M.; and the new equipment company building at NAS Jacksonville, which he said took nearly two years of Seabee labor to complete. Hinson said that he was also very pleased with the construction on the NMCB-14 Heritage Center, a small museum at NAS Jacksonville which contains a number of artifacts highlighting the history or NMCB-14.
Life Lived For Today
Laura Hare, 2009
I realize that in the grand scheme of things, age 30 really isn't all that old. But I have to admit that as I recently ended my 29th year, the birthday hit me in a way that caught me by surprise. It has provided an opportunity for me to really stop and think about things.
Things like how fast time seems to be moving now and how much of it I've allowed to sneak by unchecked.
As I brought this up to my mom on my birthday, she shared a story with me about a conversation that she had with her own mother years earlier. “When does it all finally slow down?!” my mother had asked.
My 88-year-old grandmother’s response? "Well, dear--I don't know yet!"
My mother was left somewhat floored, suddenly faced with the realization that the feeling of time flying-in all honesty, whether you're having fun or not-doesn't go away even in old age. If it keeps speeding along like this, she wondered, how do you possibly keep from going crazy?!
I can't help but have similar worries, even at such a relatively young age. I finally feel like I'm in a place where I'm comfortable with myself and know myself well enough to pursue a path that is true to who I am, regardless of how that compares to others and what they might think..or not..about me. For as long as I can remember, I've constantly compared myself to others. I know that part of this is personality and self-esteem issues that won't go away overnight. At the same time, however, I think reflection and soul-searching has played a part in the change I feel in myself leading up to this birthday. Most of all, the realization that time really does go by so fast and a life is not really worth living if it's full of anxiety or complacency and possible regret.
I remember well the days before my grandmother passed away in 2004, as she neared her mid 90's. She was in the hospital at that point and we knew by then that we were approaching our final goodbye. She spent most of the time fading in and out of sleep. However, I remember one moment in particular in which she seemed to get a surge of energy and sat up in bed…demanding some fried chicken. She'd had almost no appetite for a while so the intensity of this request was a surprise to me.
I'll never forget watching her sit up and rip into a drumstick with the energy, passion, and satisfaction of someone who has come to clearly understand something about time and when it would finally slow down: It doesn’t.
In those final minutes, my grandmother seemed to truly grasp the importance of enjoying each minute that you have and living it to the fullest. Even with something as simple as a piece of fried chicken, surrounded by the ones that you love. I hope that as I begin the journey into my 30's I can remember this lesson and live each day, every minute--no matter how fast they may feel like they're slipping away--to the fullest.
"Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized." ---Leo Buscaglia
