MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Lieutenant Gen. Robert Neller and Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Fineran, commander and sergeant major of U.S. Marine Corps Central Command, affixed the Meritorious Unit Commendation streamer to the MARCENT Battle Colors during an awards ceremony at the base theatre aboard MacDill Air Force Base, May 6.
MARCENT received the unit award from the Commandant of the Marine Corps for exceptionally meritorious service during assigned missions from January 2010 to December 2011 in support of national security objectives in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
Notable guests at the ceremony were Gen. John Paxton, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Brig. Gen. John Jansen, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources.
Lieutenant Gen. Neller, and Sgt. Maj. Fineran next presented the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism to nine MARCENT "Civilian" Marines.
With the civilian service medals pinned to their chests, Lt. Gen. Neller posed with the recipients. Receiving the civilian DoD medal were Don Lorkowski, Jerry Lyons, John Marques, Terry Moores, Charles "Gramps" Peterson, Ben Philhower, and Allen Rupenski. Not present, but also recipients of the medal were Jeff "Bird" Hibbard and Jim McSpadden.