MCIPAC commanders set conditions for success

III Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Lance Cpl. David Hersey

Date: 10.31.2013
Posted: 11.07.2013 02:18
News ID: 116421

CAMP FOSTER, Japan — Marine Corps Installations Pacific camp commanders and staff gathered Oct. 30-31 at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster to discuss myriad topics concerning MCIPAC facilities and personnel.

During the meeting, commanders reviewed past events, annual training, and exercises to develop processes to ensure the success of future Marines, according to Col. Jonathan D. Covington, the MCIPAC deputy commander.

“We are taking a look at all the pieces that make up MCIPAC and asking ourselves what we need to focus on to set the conditions for success later,” said Covington. “We’re setting things up now for the Marines that will be on this island in the years to come.”

The meetings also provided an opportunity to enhance communication between the camp commanders, and for them to discuss the wide range of duties and responsibilities they each hold, according to Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, the sergeant major of Camp Courtney and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

“The majority of the commanders here work for III MEF, and they are also working as camp commanders,” said Saucedo. “So, we are formalizing the relationship between both sides of their work and establishing a memorandum of understanding.”

The memorandum of understanding will establish a basis of communication between the commanders of each camp with the commander of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler.

In addition to establishing an understanding, the meetings also served to help the commander of MCB Butler build a command relationship with the camp commanders, according to Col. Duane A. Opperman, the assistant chief of staff, G-3, operations, training and plans, MCB Butler, MCIPAC.

“This was the final working group,” said Opperman. “We have met several times over the month with the commanders to come up with a way forward that will meet the needs of the III MEF and Camp Butler camp commanders.”

When the meetings ended, the commanders returned to their camps more confident of future endeavors, according to Opperman.

“This meeting was very successful,” said Opperman. “We were able to develop a memorandum of understanding that can be used to establish a command relationship between the MCB Butler commanding general and the commanders of III MEF.”