BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (July 11, 2008) — A new task force assumed base operations authority here and at surrounding forward operating bases in a ceremony at the Bagram Air Field Morale, Welfare and Recreation clamshell, yesterday.

TF Warrior assumed mission responsibilities and officially stood up operations, replacing TF Cincinnatus, who sustained the operations mission since January 2007. The TF commander and command sergeants major were also identified.

Col. Scott A. Spellmon will command the new task force and Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur R. Vanwyngarden will serve in the top enlisted position. 

TF Warrior is mainly comprised of Soldiers from the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, La. Additionally, individual Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy augmentees will support the 1st MEB’s mission to organize, train, equip and deploy combat-ready units anywhere in the world in order to protect the nation’s interests. 

While here, TF Warrior will assist in building the capacity of the Afghan government in four separate provinces by providing security, sustaining economic development and exercising effective governance. The 1st MEB is the only active duty element of its kind.

TF Cincinnatus was comprised of Soldiers from the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assualt) out of Fort Campbell, Ky., and sister-service individual augmentees. Prior to the 101st, the 23rd Chemical Battalion, Fort Lewis, Wash., covered the task force.