FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The 511th Dive Detachment, supported by the Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, hosted an underwater change-of-command ceremony at the Aquatic Center on Fort Eustis, Aug. 24.
The 'Trident' Soldiers bid farewell to Capt. Timothy O'Hara before the ceremony began with an informal formation.
"It's definitely sad to leave this unit," said O'Hara. "It is always hard, but I am looking forward to the next step in my Army career."
O'Hara joined Capt. Gregory Bascomb, the incoming detachment commander, and Lt. Col. Jared Ware, the 30th Engineer Battalion commander, at the far end of the swimming pool to begin the ceremony. All three secured their dive gear, and jumped into the water to conduct the traditional guide-on exchange underwater.
"It is traditional to conduct the change-of-command for a dive detachment under water," said Bascomb. "We always try to conduct them in this fashion, unless we are in a deployed environment and it is just not possible."
The colors passed from O'Hara to Ware, symbolizing the last act of the detachment commander. Ware passed the guide-on to Bascomb, bestowing command on the new commander. Finally, Bascomb passed the colors to Sgt. 1st Class Milton Prater, the 511th Dive Det. first sergeant, symbolizing that the colors are always with the Soldiers.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from all three officers and one final tradition. Bascomb put on an 84-lb. weight harness used with the Mach-5 dive suit to keep divers from rising to the surface because of the air in their suits. With the harness on, Bascomb jumped in and walked the entire length of the pool without coming up for air.
"This is another tradition carried out in dive changes-of-command, and I think it shows the incoming officers strength," said Bascomb. "The company commander shows his strength and endurance by wearing that heavy harness and clearing that distance."
Bascomb expressed his excitement at taking command of a dive detachment after the ceremony.
"I started my Army career over ten years ago as an enlisted diver," Bascomb said. "I love diving, I love being in the water, and these Soldiers are my brothers. This is an awesome chance and I am very excited."