Photo By Cpl. Julio McGraw | Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller talks to the Marines of 1st Tank...... read more read more
Subscribe
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller, and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald L. Green visited the Combat Center, Oct. 6, 2015.
“Be a fair leader, always be there for your Marines, and show them compassion,” Neller said. “That Marine came to you for a reason, so be there for them. If you are not, you will lose them.”
Neller succeeded 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford on Sept. 24. In the Message from the Commandant he released the same day, Neller said that all previous guidance is still in effect to sustain and continue to improve the Corps. Green shared the same sentiment and explained to the Marines and sailors to always prepare and be prepared.
“We are a team that never goes into the locker room or the sidelines,” Green said. “All of the other services, once they are done deploying somewhere, they come home, but not us. We have Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Forces, Marine Expeditionary Units and we guard every U.S. Embassy across the globe. We are never on the sideline.”
In addition to improving the Corps physically and mentally, Neller spoke about the technology that the world is experiencing and the different kind of battle that we are facing in cyberspace.
“We are in a new age of technology,” Neller said. “Today you probably have more processing power in your smart phone than a main frame computer did 15 years ago.”
Earlier at the Commanding General’s Conference Room, Neller discussed the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Program with Combat Center Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, and other installation leadership. Neller also spoke about the Installations recent land expansion into Johnson Valley, which for the first time allows the Marine Corps to train at a Marine Expeditionary Brigade level.
“We have been trying for years as our weapons have longer and longer ranges to maneuver our forces. I remember I came here for [Combined Armed Exercise] in 1981, we didn’t have long range rocket artillery, and high precision munitions,” Neller said. “I talked to Maj. Gen. Craparotta about Johnson Valley and it’s a great opportunity to expand the range. The bigger we can make our maneuver space, the more options we have to train our forces.”
After the town hall, Green and Neller visited with and spoke to the Marines and sailors of, 1st Tank Battalion and 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion and one of Neller’s previous units, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The Commandant served as the commanding officer of 3rd LAR, known then as 3rd Light Infantry Battalion, during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.
“It’s great seeing both of them interacting with us out here,” said Sgt. Shannon Ohlinger, radio maintenance chief, 3rd LAR. “They have some of the heaviest weight when it comes to change. For them to be out here seeing the force and the equipment first hand gives them more insight on the strengths of the force as a whole.”
The Commandant ended his town hall speech by thanking the Marines and telling them to sustain, prepare and improve themselves for future conflicts. Green also left the Marines with a message.
“I had the opportunity to go to Mount Suribachi,” Green said. “When that flag was raised there so many years ago, the Secretary of the Navy at the time said ‘The raising of that flag on Mount Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.’ So Marines; ensure that our Marine Corps lasts another 500 years and beyond. Semper Fidelis.”
| Date Taken: | 10.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2015 12:19 |
| Story ID: | 178777 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Commandant visits Combat Center, by Cpl Julio McGraw, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT