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MANAMA, Bahrain - USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) held a change of command ceremony aboard ship while moored at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Nov. 25.
Capt. Larry Getz relieved Capt. David L. Bossert as Kearsarge’s commanding officer and spoke of his confidence for the future and pride in taking command of the amphibious assault ship.
“We are a great ship because we communicate across our warfare areas and we look out for each other,” said Getz. “I truly consider us a family.”
Getz first joined the Kearsarge team in March 2014 as the ship’s executive officer. His previous sea duty assignments consist of the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 7, the “Dragonslayers” of HS 11, and the executive and commanding officer of the HS-15 “Red Lions.” His shore duty assignments consist of the Navy Legislative Affairs Office, HS-10, the Bureau of Naval Personnel and junior military aide to the Secretary of Defense for Secretaries Gates, Panetta and Hagel.
Bossert arrived aboard Kearsarge in December 2012 serving as the ship’s executive officer. He took command of the ship in May 2014. During his time as commanding officer, he led his team through various intense training work-ups to include ARG-MEU exercise (ARGMEUEX), PHIBRON-MEU integration (PMINT), aviation certification (AVCERT) and composite training exercise (COMTUEX) in preparation for the ship’s scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation.
“It is my distinct honor and privilege to have served as your commanding officer for this period of time,” said Bossert. “I will read my orders and have Capt. Getz read his, so you know who is in command of this mighty warship, the USS Kearsarge.”
The ceremony’s guest speaker, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Carl Mundy, Commander Task Force (CTF) 51, compared the change of command’s significance to that of a father giving away his daughter’s hand in marriage.
“He [Bossert] wanted to make sure that he turned over his pride and joy to someone with great character,” said Mundy. “I’m sure he truly feels like that and happily he gets Capt. Getz to accept that hand.”
Following the time-honored tradition, Getz read his orders to the assembled crew and with an exchange of salutes, he assumed command.
“We will master the routine maintenance or our equipment,” said Getz. “We will attack every challenge head on with a simple plan and realistic expectations. We will make decisions and mistakes; we will learn from both.”
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSGARG), comprised of the flagship Kearsarge, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations conducting maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation efforts.
For more news from Expeditionary Strike Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/esg2/.
| Date Taken: | 11.25.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.30.2015 06:50 |
| Story ID: | 183086 |
| Location: | MANAMA, BH |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Kearsarge welcomes new CO, by SCPO Molly Burgess, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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