3rd MEB bids farewell to Jansen, welcomes McPhillips

Photo By Sgt. Deseree Kamm | Brig. Gen. John M. Jansen receives the Defense Cooperation Award 2nd Class from Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Maj. Gen. Shinichi Aoki during the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade change of command ceremony at the theater on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, July 21, 2017. Jansen will move on to assume the duties of Commandant of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resources Strategy at the National Defense University aboard Fort Lesley J. Mcnair in Washington, D.C. Aoki is the deputy chief of staff for Western Army Headquarters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Deseree Kamm)  

CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.21.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Deseree Kamm 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

The commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Brig. Gen. John Jansen, relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Chris A. McPhillips at the Camp Courtney theater, July 21, 2017.

Jansen joined 3rd MEB as the commanding general in 2015 while also assuming the position as deputy commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. The operational staff planned and participated in five major exercises: Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise, Yama Sakura 71, Key Resolve, Fleet Synthetic Training-Japan, and Balikatan 2017. Marines and Sailors under his command conducted Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear training; they also conducted Joint Humanitarian Operations Course and Underwater Egress Training.

“I have never seen an organization so small do so much,” Jansen said.

According to Jansen, there was no moment greater than the other because every operation they conducted was essential to 3rd MEB and the Asia-Pacific region.

As the command element, Jansen and his team were responsible for providing expeditionary command and control for all contingency, crisis response and theater-level operations in order to mitigate regional insecurity with an underlying mission to the alert contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Jansen has spent the last 31 years leading Marines and is set to move on to assume the duties of Commandant of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resources Strategy at the National Defense University aboard Fort Lesley J. Mcnair in Washington, D.C.

McPhillips, coming from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, as the assistant wing commander, assumed command and said he is looking forward to continuing the successful operations that 3rd MEB Marines and Sailors have done in the past.

“To command Marines is a privilege, especially 3rd MEB,” said McPhillips. “We will continue to build relationships and help our allies and partners; that’s what we’re here to do. To make sure that 3rd MEB continues to uphold its legacy and do the great things they’ve always done.”

• Date Taken: 07.21.2017
• Date Posted: 07.21.2017 20:38
• Story ID: 242031
• Location: CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JP