CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Approximately three months after returning from deployments, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division welcomed a new commanding officer at a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 10, 2013.

After serving as the battalion commander since April 2013, Lt. Col. Steven M. Wolf relinquished command of 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines to Lt. Col. Joel F. Schmidt.

Marines and sailors from the battalion gathered at Marston Pavilion with friends and family of the commanders to witness the ceremony.

Wolf, who helped coordinate the Black Sea Rotational Force deployment for the battalion, thanked his family for standing by him through thick and thin, he thanked the Marines who were in leadership roles over him throughout his career, and the staff non-commissioned officers he had the pleasure of working with, who taught him as well.

“I’ve had the great fortune of having some great SNCOs,” Wolf said “Their outstanding leadership has helped me through everything and made my job immensely easier.”

Schmidt also thanked his close family for their continued support, and he explained the importance of having good Marines in the battalion.

“Even though this is a change of command ceremony, it’s not about the commanders,” Schmidt said. “It’s about the Marines. We’ve been at war for more than 10 years, and it’s about the Marines.”

Wolf is departing to attend the College of Naval Warfare in Newport, R.I., and Schmidt is taking command of 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines after working as a plans officer and current operations officer at Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

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