Photo By Regional Command Southwest Team | Marines and sailors gather around Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos...... read more read more
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent visited Marines and sailors throughout Regional Command Southwest, May 11-15.
While in Afghanistan, Amos visited Marine Corps bases located throughout RC(SW). During his time at each base, he took time to talk to servicemembers about progress in Afghanistan and thank them for their hard work.
“I’m very grateful for what you do,” said Amos to a crowd of Marines at Camp Leatherneck. “Every one of us is a volunteer and it’s always good to remember that. We’re all in this together.”
The commandant, who grew up in Wendell, Idaho, continued his speech by talking about the achievements of Marines in Afghanistan.
Amos explained that when the number of Marines in Afghanistan grew drastically three years ago, places like Marjah were extremely dangerous. A lot of people in the United States said Marjah could not be liberated, but now anyone can walk down the streets of Marjah without body armor.
In his speech, Amos recounted times in the past when he visited cities in Afghanistan such as Now Zad. He not only commented on the city’s safety level, but also on the growth it has made due to the efforts of Marines.
“If you walk in Now Zad with the district governor and you walk into the school, there are children in there and they’ve even got a girls’ class,” Amos said. “He’s the first district governor that I’m aware of who’s done that.”
Building confidence in the Marines and complimenting their efforts, the commandant posed the question, “When was the last time you heard something about Sangin in the newspaper?”
“We’re just about there. That’s where you fit in, in Marine Corps history. You’re part of what changed in this part of the world.”
The visit from the CMC and SMMC also marked Kent’s last chance to visit deployed Marines before his retirement this June. After speaking, Amos made sure to give the most senior enlisted man in the Marine Corps time to speak and say farewell to his Marines.
Gesturing toward Kent and placing a hand on his shoulder, Amos stated, “I’ve predicted that [Kent] is the finest sergeant major the Marine Corps has ever had.”
Then, as he prepared to hand his microphone over to Kent, he added, “If any of you [staff non-commissioned officers] look and ask, what do I want to grow up to be like? You need to grow up and be like him”
Following Kent’s speech, the man wearing the most stars the Corps has to offer asked the crowd if they had any questions. After a few moments of silence Kent broke peace.
"I think they’re all just happy as hell to be here, sir.”
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2011 08:06 |
| Story ID: | 70649 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 522 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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