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Casing of the Colors: A transitional milestone

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan District
Published Jan. 25, 2021
U. S. Soldiers of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Afghanistan District, Bagram Airfield pose in front of the U.S. and USACE command flag after the Casing of the Colors Ceremony. Representing the District are from left, Sergeant First Class Joseph Harrison (kneeling), Sergeant Major Nathan Marshall, Senior Enlisted Leader, COL Mark Geraldi, Afghanistan District Commanding Officer, and Major John Zook (kneeling).
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U. S. Soldiers of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Afghanistan District, Bagram Airfield pose in front of the U.S. and USACE command flag after the Casing of the Colors Ceremony. Representing the District are from left, Sergeant First Class Joseph Harrison (kneeling), Sergeant Major Nathan Marshall, Senior Enlisted Leader, COL Mark Geraldi, Afghanistan District Commanding Officer, and Major John Zook (kneeling).

COL Mark Geraldi, USACE Afghanistan District Commanding Officer, addresses District team members during the Color Casing Ceremony held at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on December 16, 2020.
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COL Mark Geraldi, USACE Afghanistan District Commanding Officer, addresses District team members during the Color Casing Ceremony held at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on December 16, 2020.

COL Mark Geraldi, USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District Commander, along with Sergeant First Class Joseph Harrison, and Sergeant Major Nathan Marshall, Senior Enlisted Leader Case the Command Colors at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
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COL Mark Geraldi, USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District Commander, along with Sergeant First Class Joseph Harrison, and Sergeant Major Nathan Marshall, Senior Enlisted Leader Case the Command Colors at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Sergeant First Class Joseph Harrison, Plans and Operations Non-Commissioned Officer, Afghanistan District, showcases the USACE Command Colors for the final time at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan during the ceremony where the Colors will be cased.
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Sergeant First Class Joseph Harrison, Plans and Operations Non-Commissioned Officer, Afghanistan District, showcases the USACE Command Colors for the final time at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan during the ceremony where the Colors will be cased.

As members of the USACE Afghanistan District stand in the background, the Command Team salutes during the playing of the National Anthem during the Casing of the Colors Ceremony.
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As members of the USACE Afghanistan District stand in the background, the Command Team salutes during the playing of the National Anthem during the Casing of the Colors Ceremony.

Major John Zook, Plans and Operations Officer in Charge, was the Master of Ceremony at the recent Casing of the USACE Colors at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
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Major John Zook, Plans and Operations Officer in Charge, was the Master of Ceremony at the recent Casing of the USACE Colors at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

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Transatlantic Afghanistan District participated recently in a Color Casing Ceremony at the District Headquarters, Bagram Airfield, honoring a District lineage of exemplary service in Afghanistan dating back to 2003.

The ceremony was held honoring more than 16 years of steadfast work and dedication on behalf of the Transatlantic Division Leadership, the Afghanistan District Leadership along with numerous team members, military and civilian who have and will continue to follow the USACE District’s transition as it maintains a steady glide path to “Building Strong”.

The ceremony prepared the colors’ journey with Sergeant Major Nathan Marshall, custodian of the unit colors, to the USACE District’s Kuwait Project Delivery Platform. Sergeant Major’s escorting of the colors to Kuwait is a physical symbol of the broader transition across the District.

The colors will remain cased until the arrival of the District Commander, COL Mark Geraldi in Kuwait, at which time, the reunited command team of the Sergeant Major and Commander, will uncase the colors.

This ceremony marks the beginning of yet another chapter in the District’s ongoing history.

(Photos by Nicole Griffin)


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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

We SAFELY deliver agile, responsive, and innovative, design, construction, engineering and contingency solutions in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and other global partners to advance national security interests.

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