Department of Navy senior leaders visit Sailors, Marines in Kuwait

Photo By Master Sgt. Chris W. Cox | Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter meets with Sailors and Marines in Kuwait, Nov. 21, before heading to Iraq to spend Thanksgiving with service members in Iraq.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

11.22.2007

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Reeba Critser 

U.S. Army Central   

By Sgt. 1st Class Reeba Critser
Third Army/U.S. Army Central Public Affairs Office

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Department of the Navy senior leaders visited Sailors and Marines at Kuwait's Logistical Support Area Nov. 21.

Spending Thanksgiving with their troops were Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent.

Wearing a khaki shirt and trousers, combat boots and a Marine Corps utility cover, Winter first met with individually augmented Sailors at Camp Virginia before having lunch with Sailors and Marines at the LSA.

He entertained the Sailors and Marines and talked about their hometowns and what they missed most.

"You don't see the Secretary of the Navy every day," said Cpl. Jose Jimenez, with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command section at LSA and a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. "It was great that he spent his time with us."

Later in the day, Conway and Kent visited Marines at the LSA.

"Things are going good [in the Global War on Terrorism]," Conway told the Marines. "Iraq's a dangerous place, but it's incredible to see how it's progressed since December 04, what the Sailors and Marines have done."

Kent said his nephew is on his second tour in Iraq.

"First time he was there, [the Marines] were kicking butts," Kent said of his nephew's unit. "On this rotation, they're kissing babies. It's a big change."

He told the Marines about the Corps' expansion plan.

"We have been authorized to grow the Marine Corps by 25,000," Conway said. "We'll accomplish this in a five-year period. We'll increase our recruiting goal by 5,000 every year."

He ensured the quality of incoming Marines would remain high.

During the question and answer phase, Chief Warrant Officer Randy Martinez, personnel action officer for Third Army/U.S. Army Central, asked if civilians were authorized to wear the Marine Corps cammies.

"It's approved," said Conway.

Kent added, "Civilians can wear it, but they must maintain our standards to wear the uniform."
A bonus was when Conway showed the new Marine Corps physical training uniform to the Marines in attendance.

"We changed the color green on the uniform to the green of Belleau Wood," Conway said.
The new uniform will feature a light weight jacket which Marines can wear with civilian attire to help encourage recruitment.

"It's going to the wounded Warriors first," Conway said. "Then to boot camps and the rest of the Corps."

Conway and Kent also discussed reenlistments and bonuses.

"We don't pay as much for an enlistment as other services," Conway said. "But we do pay a good reenlistment bonus to keep our good Marines."

All three leaders headed to Iraq next to spend Thanksgiving with more deployed Sailors and Marines.

• Date Taken: 11.22.2007
• Date Posted: 11.26.2007 17:42
• Story ID: 14158
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW