The Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 7 celebrated its first year of operations with a Commissioning Pennant and Plank Owner ceremony July 24.

The event celebrates the final stage in re-establishing the unit which had supported the U.S. 6th Fleet and European area of operations for almost 50 years before it was decommissioned in 2006. Rear Adm. Terry Moulton, commander, Navy Medicine East attended as guest of honor.

"You really are the force multiplier, just one of you deployed in support of operations can support a population of 10 to 20 thousand just by fixing a water system or spraying for different vectors. You really wasted no time getting established and making a difference and can be very proud of all that you have accomplished over the year," said Moulton. "I look forward to hearing the great stories and accomplishments of your support to the fleet as we go forward, I thank you for what you do each and every day and truly appreciate the partnership that you have here with the hospital and the rest of Navy Medicine in supporting the fleet."

The unit was officially re-commissioned by Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, Navy Surgeon General, on June 20, 2014 in a ribbon cutting and commissioning ceremony. Only six personnel had been assigned to NEPMU-7 at the time of the re-commissioning. Now fully manned and operationally capable, the officers and enlisted personnel of NEPMU-7 formally recognized this achievement by encasing their commissioning pennant for display and presenting each member with a framed certificate granting them the entitlements of plank owner.

"Most people go through their entire military careers and never have a chance to do this, a chance to stand up a unit from scratch, to become a plank owner," said Capt. Juliann Althoff, NEPMU-7 officer in charge. "This ceremony is designed to celebrate and recognize our NEPMU-7 plank owners who got our unit where it is today - fully manned and mission capable in an amazingly short period of time."

The NEPMU-7 officers and crew presented U.S. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota and U.S. Naval Hospital Rota with honorary Plank Owner certificates in appreciation and acknowledgment of the critical support they played in the unit's standup. Rear Adm. Moulton was also presented with a replica commissioning pennant and an honorary Plank Owner certificate.

The unit commemorated several important milestones including a christening ceremony on May 28, 2014 when they moved from a temporary office space inside U.S. Naval Hospital Rota and into their current building. This symbolic move from "dry-dock" was followed by the unit's official commissioning ceremony.

Over the last year the unit has taken on its full complement of active duty staff, nearly tripling in size. This event marks the end of the unit's "sea trials" as it has proved itself self-sufficient and fully operationally capable.

"NEPMU-7 has now written another chapter in our rich history by getting this proud unit delivered back online (and once again) providing services to the fleet and expeditionary forces, I look forward to great things in our future as we begin the next chapter in our history." said Althoff.

As is the nature of comradery aboard NAVSTA Rota, the unit's ceremony was supported by enlisted personnel from various tenant commands, including the return of Pako, the military working dog who served as one of Vice Adm. Nathan's sideboys last year.

NEPMU-7 provides public health support to Navy and Marine Corps forces throughout Europe and Africa. For more information on NEPMU-7 products and services: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/nepmu-7/Pages/default.aspx .

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/.