Photo By Sgt. Olivia McDonald | The future commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps talks to Marines, sailors and Coast...... read more read more
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NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy - The future commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps visited Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa Detachment A, Aug. 15-16, on Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy.
Lieutenant Gen. Robert B. Neller, currently the commander of U.S. Marine Forces Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe, is making his way to speak with the crisis response forces throughout Europe as part of his farewell tour before he assumes the top seat in the Marine Corps later this year.
Neller stopped at Morón Air Base, Spain, prior to visiting NAS Sigonella to speak with Marines and sailors with the SPMAGTF-CR-AF command element. At NAS Sigonella, Neller spent his time touring SPMAGTF-CR-AF Det. A’s headquarters, meeting Marines and sailors and expressing his gratitude to them, explaining that their role is now “the new normal,” as he eluded to U.S. senators during his confirmation hearing with the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, July 23, 2015.
In his address to the Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen, Neller talked about the crisis response and theater security cooperation missions SPMAGTF-CR-AF will be involved in. He said it’s the Marines who need to be postured to respond to a crisis and to train host nations’ militaries to protect U.S. embassies and its people and to promote regional stability on the continent.
“The countries we train and assist want us (in Africa),” said Neller. “They don’t want us there to do the job for them. They want us to help them, get a better idea of how to defeat these bad guys. They want to do it themselves and want to do it right. They want the Marines. They know who we are and what we are capable of.”
During his confirmation brief, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., asked Lt. Gen. Neller how the Marine Corps would respond if another Benghazi-type attack happened.
In his response to the senator, Neller said the Marine Corps has an alert force that can respond within six hours, with units strategically spread across the Mediterranean in the event a similar situation happens or if there is an indication or warning of an attack on U.S. personnel or interests.
He echoed those statements, during his address to the Marines and sailors, reminding them they are in a position to make a difference, while simultaneously promoting regional stability in a variety of African nations through theater security cooperation missions.
He also fielded questions from the crowd about changes to the Marine Corps’ tattoo policy and tightening budgets, while further explaining what his priorities will be in the near future.
“You guys and your tattoos,” he said to laughter. “I don’t want to go into that as there are a lot more important things the Marine Corps needs to address. There are a lot of big issues out there and, unfortunately, they have to do with money. But I will make sure that we are trained no matter what.”
After speaking with Marines and sailors across his area of responsibility, Neller will return to the U.S. where he is expected to take the top seat as the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps next month.
| Date Taken: | 08.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2015 16:56 |
| Story ID: | 173324 |
| Location: | NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, IT |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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