Muña takes command of E Company at Fort Knox

FORT KNOX, Kentucky—Standing proudly before 280 soldiers, friends and family members, Capt. Alfred M. Muña from the CNMI took command of the 76th Engineer Company (Steel Hammers) of the 19th Engineer Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky on July 1, 2008.

Among the friends and family members from the CNMI and the U.S. mainland who made the journey to Fort Knox to attend the change of command ceremony were Muña’s parents, retired Sergeant Major Jesus C. and Dorothea C. Muña of Saipan, his sister Geraldine M. Mendiola with her husband SFC/E-7 Mark A. Mendiola and sons Mark Jr. and Michael, and sister Caroline and her husband Jered Lutu and daughter Jaydin. Ed Pangelinan, a good family friend, also attended.

“Our people in the CNMI join me in extending our congratulations and best wishes upon your assumption of duty and responsibility as the company commander for the Steel Hammers at Fort Knox. We thank you for your service to our great Nation, and applaud your accomplishments with the United States Army,” said Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio.

Muña graduated from the University of Guam, earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 2001. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic Course and the Engineer Captain Career Course.

His duty assignments include service with the 20th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas from April 2002 to June 2005. He also served as a Mechanized Engineer Platoon Leader for sixteen months with B Company and the Assault and Obstacle Platoon Leader for nine months with C Company. While the A&O Platoon Leader for C Company, he was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom II from March 2004 to March 2005.

In January 2006, Muña became the Battalion S4 (Logistics Officer) immediately upon arriving at the newly activated 19th Engineer Battalion. In August 2006, he deployed with the battalion as the S4 for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was subsequently stationed to Fort Knox in November 2007.

Muña’s military awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Airborne Parachutist Badge, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon (2 NUM).

He is married to Grace Alvarez of Dededo, Guam. They have two children, Alfred Jr., 8, and Gabriella, 5.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]