WEBVTT 00:00.200 --> 00:03.380 Ladies and gentlemen , welcome to the 00:03.390 --> 00:06.079 Change of Command ceremony at which 00:06.090 --> 00:09.810 Major General Paul J . Rock junior will 00:09.819 --> 00:12.319 relinquish command of us Marine Corps 00:12.329 --> 00:16.159 forces Central Command to Major General 00:16.170 --> 00:18.610 Christopher A mcphillips . The 00:18.620 --> 00:21.440 presiding officer for today's ceremony 00:21.469 --> 00:24.729 is General Eric M Smith , assistant 00:24.739 --> 00:28.209 commandant of the Marine Corps . The 00:28.219 --> 00:30.819 chaplain for today's ceremony is 00:30.829 --> 00:34.290 Colonel Shabaz . Please rise for the 00:34.299 --> 00:37.450 invocation and remain standing for the 00:37.459 --> 00:39.880 march on of the colors , the national 00:39.889 --> 00:41.740 anthem and honors . 00:44.349 --> 00:47.340 Please bow your heads . God would come 00:47.349 --> 00:49.516 before you today with mixed emotions , 00:49.516 --> 00:51.627 sad because we are losing the beloved 00:51.627 --> 00:53.571 commander , Major General Rock , a 00:53.571 --> 00:55.627 marine that has served his nation at 00:55.627 --> 00:57.738 every level with courage , compassion 00:57.738 --> 00:59.905 and commitment . God bless him and his 00:59.905 --> 01:02.071 family as they go on to new adventures 01:02.071 --> 01:04.293 and higher responsibilities . God , our 01:04.293 --> 01:06.460 second emotion is that of thankfulness 01:06.460 --> 01:08.571 because we knew you wouldn't leave us 01:08.571 --> 01:10.682 without leadership . God , we welcome 01:10.682 --> 01:12.905 Major General mcphillips and his family 01:12.905 --> 01:15.127 to our team . God guide him to lead his 01:15.127 --> 01:18.239 marines with technical and technical of 01:18.250 --> 01:21.209 our marines and our nation . And God , 01:21.220 --> 01:23.276 as always , we pray for our brothers 01:23.276 --> 01:25.442 and sisters who are on the front lines 01:25.442 --> 01:27.498 of democracy who in the fox holes of 01:27.498 --> 01:29.776 freedom , keep them safe from all hurt , 01:29.776 --> 01:31.942 harm and danger . Let Saint say amen . 01:31.942 --> 01:32.610 Amen 01:48.059 --> 01:48.569 March 02:28.720 --> 02:29.089 very 03:39.830 --> 03:42.630 now taking his position is Major 03:42.639 --> 03:44.960 General Paul J Buck Junior . 03:46.279 --> 03:49.330 Please stand as we render the final 03:49.339 --> 03:52.009 honors . As the Commander US Marine 03:52.020 --> 03:54.160 Corps Forces Central Command . 04:05.500 --> 04:06.500 Yeah . 04:11.529 --> 04:12.529 Yeah , 04:17.118 --> 04:19.451 ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 04:28.100 --> 04:30.850 Ladies and gentlemen , we now come to 04:30.859 --> 04:33.570 the ceremony's most solemn moment . The 04:33.579 --> 04:37.519 actual passing of command , the battle 04:37.529 --> 04:39.209 colors of a Marine Corps unit 04:39.220 --> 04:40.839 symbolizes the authority and 04:40.850 --> 04:42.600 accountability of command . 04:42.769 --> 04:44.713 Transferring the colors during the 04:44.713 --> 04:47.149 ceremony symbolizes the relinquishing 04:47.160 --> 04:50.309 of command by Major General Rock and by 04:50.320 --> 04:52.619 accepting the colors . Major General mc 04:52.660 --> 04:55.309 Phillips accepts command and confirms 04:55.320 --> 04:57.670 his total commitment to the marines and 04:57.679 --> 05:00.500 sailors that he will command . Sergeant 05:00.510 --> 05:02.920 Major Williamson will now deliver the 05:02.929 --> 05:04.779 colors to the commander . 05:26.410 --> 05:29.980 Mhm . From the 05:29.989 --> 05:32.100 acting commandant of the Marine Corps 05:32.500 --> 05:35.910 to Major General Paul J Rock 05:35.920 --> 05:39.700 Junior , effective 1001 05:39.709 --> 05:43.559 August 2023 . You will 05:43.570 --> 05:47.100 relinquish your duties as Commander US 05:47.109 --> 05:50.279 Marine Corps Forces Central Command 05:50.670 --> 05:54.480 signed Eric M Smith , general 05:54.679 --> 05:57.100 acting commandant of the Marine Corps . 05:59.750 --> 06:03.269 OK . From 06:03.649 --> 06:05.649 the acting commandant of the Marine 06:05.649 --> 06:09.179 Corps to Major General Christopher A 06:09.190 --> 06:11.369 mcphillips effective 06:11.570 --> 06:14.059 1001 August 06:14.079 --> 06:17.450 2023 . You will assume 06:17.459 --> 06:21.119 duties as the Commander US Marine Corps 06:21.130 --> 06:24.420 Forces . Central Command signed 06:24.700 --> 06:28.070 Eric M Smith General acting 06:28.079 --> 06:29.912 commandant of the Marine Corps . 06:51.329 --> 06:51.859 Pretty 06:59.079 --> 07:00.079 yeah , 07:03.049 --> 07:06.329 ladies and gentlemen , please rise for 07:06.339 --> 07:09.549 honors to the commander us Marine Corps 07:09.559 --> 07:12.839 Forces Central Command , Major General 07:12.890 --> 07:15.839 Christopher A mcphillips and remain 07:15.850 --> 07:18.299 standing for the march off of the 07:18.309 --> 07:18.940 colors . 07:45.179 --> 07:46.089 Really 07:49.250 --> 07:49.769 more ? 08:16.500 --> 08:20.390 Please be seated . Ladies and gentlemen , 08:20.459 --> 08:22.626 the assistant commandant of the Marine 08:22.626 --> 08:24.869 Corps General Eric M Smith . 08:27.429 --> 08:29.318 You more . Can you hear me back ? 08:31.000 --> 08:33.619 So a lot , a lot of people to thank and 08:33.630 --> 08:35.797 uh trying to be uh to be brief because 08:35.797 --> 08:37.852 you didn't come to me and came for , 08:37.852 --> 08:39.852 for these two . So first uh General 08:39.852 --> 08:42.640 Carroll , I really appreciate uh you 08:42.989 --> 08:45.630 being here today , it is a big day . I 08:45.659 --> 08:47.826 appreciate you being here . I know you 08:47.826 --> 08:50.159 have , you also have other things to do . 08:50.159 --> 08:54.119 Um but it is uh it , it is a big deal 08:54.130 --> 08:56.690 for us with uh General Carrillo here 08:56.700 --> 08:59.630 and you saw in the formation of here , 08:59.679 --> 09:02.190 this is a team fight team America , 09:02.479 --> 09:05.369 team fighters . It is uh it's , it's 09:05.380 --> 09:07.380 always as a , as a component . It's 09:07.380 --> 09:09.760 always a challenge because you have two 09:09.770 --> 09:12.020 bosses , you have a combatant commander 09:12.030 --> 09:14.197 and you have a service team and that's 09:14.197 --> 09:16.252 why we only put the very best people 09:16.252 --> 09:19.239 that we have in our our force . So uh 09:19.250 --> 09:22.940 for my friend , Eric Carri , thanks for 09:23.130 --> 09:25.352 for making this a team fight because it 09:25.352 --> 09:28.429 really , really is . There are numerous 09:28.440 --> 09:30.496 uh retired general officers , active 09:30.496 --> 09:32.496 duty , general officers . In fact , 09:32.496 --> 09:32.349 there's like more general officers here 09:32.359 --> 09:34.581 than we have in the entire Marine Corps 09:34.581 --> 09:37.460 right now . So , 09:42.070 --> 09:44.429 hammer all of you . Thanks for being 09:44.440 --> 09:48.309 here , I miss sweet and there's several 09:48.320 --> 09:50.489 missing , I'm sure . Thank you for 09:50.500 --> 09:52.722 being here to , to pay , uh , honors to 09:52.722 --> 09:54.778 these two really , really incredible 09:54.778 --> 09:56.778 war fighters . Here's what I'm most 09:56.778 --> 09:59.219 proud of and I'll be brief , you know , 09:59.229 --> 10:01.729 Paul Rock rockets . Um , he's done 10:01.739 --> 10:04.030 everything , first operational 10:04.039 --> 10:06.261 deployment of the MP 22 squadron . That 10:06.261 --> 10:08.372 was a significant emotional event for 10:08.372 --> 10:10.539 the Marine Corps that had to be done . 10:10.539 --> 10:12.761 Right . So he sent rocket to do it as a 10:12.761 --> 10:14.872 lieutenant colonel and it's just been 10:14.872 --> 10:16.761 an uphill trajectory ever since . 10:16.761 --> 10:18.983 That's just what he does . And he got a 10:18.983 --> 10:21.150 hard mission to give the rocket and it 10:21.150 --> 10:22.928 all goes smoothly . He has done 10:22.928 --> 10:25.590 Yeoman's work down here at in a theater 10:25.599 --> 10:28.169 that is still vitally important and 10:28.179 --> 10:32.080 still constantly in turmoil . 10:32.400 --> 10:36.210 Um It requires constant pending and 10:36.219 --> 10:38.570 he's done that with limited forces 10:38.580 --> 10:40.802 mostly by his personal presence and his 10:40.802 --> 10:44.039 personal energies . The entire staff at 10:44.049 --> 10:47.520 Marson . Thank you . Not a forgotten 10:47.530 --> 10:49.260 theater by any stretch of the 10:49.270 --> 10:51.437 imagination . In fact , once again , a 10:51.437 --> 10:54.250 rising theater , it's just , there's 10:54.260 --> 10:56.260 just too much going on here to , to 10:56.260 --> 10:58.482 turn an eye even for a second because a 10:58.482 --> 11:00.704 blink of an eye , bad things can happen 11:00.704 --> 11:02.900 here , so privileged uh that you were 11:02.909 --> 11:05.349 here proud that you were here and you 11:05.359 --> 11:07.739 and Maria just again , just a , a 11:07.750 --> 11:10.500 powerful combination . We will . We're 11:10.510 --> 11:12.788 glad we're getting you back in the NCR . 11:12.788 --> 11:15.010 I know you're not happy about coming to 11:15.010 --> 11:17.121 the NCR uh leaving Tampa , but you're 11:17.121 --> 11:19.232 gonna be really excited in February . 11:19.232 --> 11:21.177 Um We get the snow . It's gonna be 11:21.177 --> 11:23.399 great , but we are , we're really proud 11:23.399 --> 11:25.454 of both of you and we're glad you're 11:25.454 --> 11:27.510 staying with us in service . Could , 11:27.510 --> 11:29.621 couldn't uh ask for two better people 11:29.621 --> 11:31.843 here for coming back to the NCR . Thank 11:31.843 --> 11:34.940 you for Phil . M uh 11:34.950 --> 11:38.450 wow , you and Candace uh Lexi , this is 11:38.460 --> 11:41.679 uh this is all all good for you coming 11:41.690 --> 11:43.079 in the exact right guy M 11:44.859 --> 11:46.849 F-35 pilot , one of our first G OS 11:46.859 --> 11:49.409 flying the F-35 was my deputy commander 11:49.539 --> 11:52.619 um out in Okinawan back . Rocket was 11:52.630 --> 11:54.852 the installations commander when mcclay 11:54.852 --> 11:56.963 was the deputy out of CG . So we , we 11:56.963 --> 11:59.074 go back a little while and I forgot , 11:59.074 --> 12:01.297 I'm sorry about that General Clark . Um 12:01.297 --> 12:03.130 We go back quite a ways . You're 12:03.130 --> 12:06.739 getting a bona fide war fighter in 12:06.880 --> 12:08.880 Chris Phillips . You're getting AAA 12:08.880 --> 12:10.890 double dynamic UO because you get 12:10.900 --> 12:12.700 Candace and they are absolutely 12:12.710 --> 12:15.239 phenomenal . It's one of the , one of 12:15.250 --> 12:17.250 the best teams . I mean , if you're 12:17.250 --> 12:19.417 gonna have to replace this , you do it 12:19.417 --> 12:21.583 with that because there's , there's no 12:21.583 --> 12:24.179 other way you can , you can have this 12:24.190 --> 12:26.640 kind of quality on a repetitive basis 12:26.650 --> 12:29.619 in ST and you know , General Mundy , I 12:29.630 --> 12:31.686 think can tell you as a former Saint 12:31.686 --> 12:34.489 commander Vital theater to us , so 12:34.500 --> 12:38.309 proud of both of you , complete trust 12:38.320 --> 12:40.890 and confidence that why you phone call 12:40.900 --> 12:42.900 away if you and I go back . You are 12:42.900 --> 12:45.011 supposed to be here today . Um That's 12:45.011 --> 12:47.122 an inside joke from Okinawa , but you 12:47.122 --> 12:49.289 are supposed to be here today . Do you 12:49.289 --> 12:52.299 need anything ? You let me know if you 12:52.770 --> 12:54.659 need something , if he , if he is 12:54.659 --> 12:56.826 unable to call , you'll call and we'll 12:56.826 --> 12:58.826 make this thing 1215 here . And the 12:58.826 --> 13:00.992 work that the command has done for the 13:00.992 --> 13:02.714 trusted maven taxes , I mean , 13:04.280 --> 13:06.391 unbelievable amount of work with this 13:06.391 --> 13:08.336 many resources , punching out your 13:08.336 --> 13:10.502 weight class . You're gonna need to be 13:10.502 --> 13:10.210 doing that for quite some time . So 13:10.359 --> 13:13.150 thank you for the rocks . Thanks Nancy 13:13.159 --> 13:15.381 mcphillips . Super excited Marine Corps 13:15.381 --> 13:17.326 could not be in better hands . And 13:17.326 --> 13:19.381 again , General Carilla , thanks for 13:19.381 --> 13:21.548 taking the time for you and so much of 13:21.548 --> 13:23.492 your staff to be here that sends a 13:23.492 --> 13:25.770 strong message . Um but it is one team , 13:25.770 --> 13:27.937 one fight and uh we should not be more 13:27.937 --> 13:30.140 pleased to be here in support of you 13:30.150 --> 13:32.261 because that's what we do . We are in 13:32.261 --> 13:34.317 support of the combatant commander . 13:34.317 --> 13:36.317 That's what we do as a service , we 13:36.317 --> 13:38.330 support , we provide and uh we're 13:38.340 --> 13:41.369 really privileged to anything and I'm 13:41.380 --> 13:43.491 gonna step off the stage . So I think 13:43.491 --> 13:45.658 uh general might have something to say 13:45.658 --> 13:47.880 about you more than me . I got the dirt 13:47.880 --> 13:50.619 on you . Thank you all for being here 13:50.630 --> 13:52.852 to honor these two great war fighters . 13:52.852 --> 13:54.019 And this very , very 14:01.950 --> 14:04.900 ladies and gentlemen , the Commander us 14:04.979 --> 14:08.820 Central Command . Thank you , 14:08.830 --> 14:11.840 ma'am . All Right . Good morning , 14:11.849 --> 14:14.909 everybody . Good morning there . 14:16.380 --> 14:18.602 Hey . Um Hey , thanks y'all for joining 14:18.602 --> 14:20.769 us today for Major General Paul Rock's 14:20.769 --> 14:22.936 tenure as commander of us Marine Corps 14:22.936 --> 14:25.102 Central Command . And we welcome Major 14:25.102 --> 14:27.640 General Chris mcfly mcphillips as 14:27.650 --> 14:29.830 incoming commander first . I want to 14:29.840 --> 14:31.951 welcome my good friend , Eric . Thank 14:31.951 --> 14:34.062 you so much for being here , bringing 14:34.062 --> 14:36.173 your better half , Trish . Um All the 14:36.173 --> 14:38.284 families of uh Paul Rock and Chris mc 14:38.284 --> 14:40.340 Phillips joining us today are Paul's 14:40.340 --> 14:40.229 wife , Maria and their son , Joseph is 14:40.239 --> 14:42.295 representing brother Sean and sister 14:42.295 --> 14:44.406 Julia and Maria's extended family who 14:44.406 --> 14:46.628 all live here in the local Florida area 14:46.628 --> 14:48.739 despite you know , the gate trying to 14:48.739 --> 14:50.739 hold you up a little bit there . So 14:50.739 --> 14:52.906 thanks for coming in . Um a huge shout 14:52.906 --> 14:54.572 out to Paul's dad , us army , 14:54.572 --> 14:56.461 Lieutenant Colonel , retired Paul 14:56.461 --> 14:58.461 Senior Rock who's watching from the 14:58.461 --> 15:00.628 internet . A big who to you , sir . Um 15:00.628 --> 15:02.628 Thank you for joining us here today 15:02.628 --> 15:04.795 from the internet . Uh We also welcome 15:04.795 --> 15:06.628 Chris's wife , Candace and their 15:06.628 --> 15:08.739 daughter , Lexi , as well as chris' , 15:08.739 --> 15:11.479 sister Wendy for over 40 years has been 15:11.489 --> 15:13.545 responsible for maintaining security 15:13.545 --> 15:15.656 and stability in the central region . 15:16.049 --> 15:18.216 The region is not only critical to the 15:18.216 --> 15:20.382 world's economies but some of the most 15:20.382 --> 15:22.493 immediate and credible threats to the 15:22.493 --> 15:24.660 security of the United States homeland 15:24.660 --> 15:26.660 and its partners and allies emanate 15:26.660 --> 15:28.549 from this part of the world . The 15:28.549 --> 15:30.660 challenges we face in Centcom area of 15:30.660 --> 15:32.882 responsibility are increasingly complex 15:32.882 --> 15:36.200 and since 2005 Cent has played a role 15:36.210 --> 15:38.321 in maintaining our military readiness 15:38.321 --> 15:40.488 in building strong regional partners . 15:40.659 --> 15:43.289 Marin's unique ability to provide 15:43.299 --> 15:45.466 marine expeditionary forces capable of 15:45.466 --> 15:47.690 conducting a wide range of operations 15:47.700 --> 15:49.969 is critical to our ability to quickly 15:49.979 --> 15:53.039 respond to crisis in the region . But 15:53.049 --> 15:54.716 while the region represents a 15:54.716 --> 15:56.660 complexity of challenges , it also 15:56.660 --> 15:59.210 represents a range of opportunities and 15:59.219 --> 16:01.441 opportunities that General Rock did not 16:01.441 --> 16:04.030 hesitate to leverage Paul's exceptional 16:04.039 --> 16:06.750 work with the Intrepid Maven exercise 16:06.770 --> 16:08.881 helped enhance our military readiness 16:09.020 --> 16:11.131 and reassure regional partners of our 16:11.131 --> 16:13.450 commitment . Intrepid Ma is a forced 16:13.460 --> 16:15.627 deployment training series designed to 16:15.627 --> 16:17.793 prepare us for the demands of volatile 16:17.793 --> 16:19.849 and fluid area of responsibility . A 16:19.849 --> 16:21.710 key part of that training is to 16:21.719 --> 16:23.960 exercise the service's ability to 16:23.969 --> 16:26.469 quickly project forces into theater to 16:26.479 --> 16:28.535 demonstrate our global readiness and 16:28.535 --> 16:30.757 responsiveness to crisis through Paul's 16:30.757 --> 16:33.010 leadership and persistence . He was 16:33.020 --> 16:35.187 able to leverage his relationship with 16:35.187 --> 16:37.409 the Marine Corps to get forces into the 16:37.409 --> 16:39.520 region to train with partners , which 16:39.520 --> 16:41.742 has proven to be a force multiplier and 16:41.742 --> 16:43.909 strengthen Centcom's relationship with 16:43.909 --> 16:46.020 the Marine Corps particularly because 16:46.020 --> 16:48.076 they are no more confident that they 16:48.076 --> 16:48.049 can send Marines to Centcom and they'll 16:48.059 --> 16:50.690 actually get them back . It was Paul's 16:50.700 --> 16:52.867 work with the Intrepid Maven program . 16:52.867 --> 16:55.089 There's a joke behind that by the way , 16:55.089 --> 16:57.311 that set the foundation for the arrival 16:57.311 --> 16:59.367 of critical assets like the recently 16:59.367 --> 17:01.422 allocated Amphibious Readiness Group 17:01.422 --> 17:03.589 and the Marine Expeditionary unit that 17:03.589 --> 17:05.756 are coming to Centcom literally in the 17:05.756 --> 17:07.811 coming days . Another key area where 17:07.811 --> 17:09.922 Paul has had a substantial impact was 17:09.922 --> 17:12.144 naval integration . Paul worked closely 17:12.144 --> 17:14.144 with NAV sent to incorporate Marine 17:14.144 --> 17:15.922 Corps equities in the NAV Sense 17:15.922 --> 17:18.130 initiative and plans . This provided 17:18.140 --> 17:20.140 more sent personnel with first hand 17:20.140 --> 17:21.862 regional experience and direct 17:21.862 --> 17:23.918 involvement with foreign partners in 17:23.918 --> 17:26.251 Bahrain . And through task force , 51 5 , 17:26.251 --> 17:28.170 Morrison created opportunities to 17:28.180 --> 17:30.069 experiment and conduct operations 17:30.069 --> 17:32.260 alongside partner nations that greatly 17:32.270 --> 17:34.214 benefited both marines and foreign 17:34.219 --> 17:37.020 forces . Paul's persistent engagement 17:37.060 --> 17:39.227 with regional leaders , reinforced our 17:39.227 --> 17:41.359 commitment to the region , freedom of 17:41.369 --> 17:43.079 navigation and rules based 17:43.089 --> 17:45.400 international order , all of which are 17:45.410 --> 17:47.299 under near constant threat by our 17:47.299 --> 17:49.390 adversaries in supporting these 17:49.400 --> 17:51.567 initiatives and many others during his 17:51.567 --> 17:53.456 time in command , Paul has proven 17:53.456 --> 17:55.511 himself a trusted partner and leader 17:55.511 --> 17:57.733 while he is every bit a textbook marine 17:57.733 --> 17:59.969 with a stoic demeanor . Strong 80 s 17:59.979 --> 18:02.060 movie game and love for the foo 18:02.069 --> 18:04.013 fighters . He absolutely loves his 18:04.013 --> 18:05.847 marine and is committed to their 18:05.847 --> 18:07.736 success . This commitment enabled 18:07.736 --> 18:09.847 Marson to build trusted relationships 18:09.847 --> 18:11.569 on a firm foundation of mutual 18:11.569 --> 18:13.736 understanding and respect for others . 18:13.849 --> 18:15.960 He recognized that people to people , 18:15.960 --> 18:18.071 ties are the true bridge to effective 18:18.071 --> 18:19.960 military cooperation and regional 18:19.960 --> 18:22.459 diplomacy . Paul , I want to thank you 18:22.469 --> 18:24.691 for your leadership , dedication to our 18:24.691 --> 18:26.858 marines and efforts to build readiness 18:26.858 --> 18:29.339 and cultivate deep abiding partnerships 18:29.349 --> 18:31.627 that will bear fruit for years to come . 18:31.627 --> 18:33.738 Well beyond your tenure , the best of 18:33.738 --> 18:35.960 luck to you and your next job . And I'm 18:35.960 --> 18:38.182 thrilled to see you continue to develop 18:38.182 --> 18:40.293 a mentor . The next generation of our 18:40.293 --> 18:42.293 joint force , senior leaders at the 18:42.293 --> 18:44.516 National War College . I'd also like to 18:44.516 --> 18:46.793 extend a special thanks to Paul's wife , 18:46.793 --> 18:48.738 Maria for being an anchor and as a 18:48.738 --> 18:51.170 distinguished um herself through 18:51.180 --> 18:53.013 supporting Paul throughout three 18:53.013 --> 18:55.180 decades of service to the Marine Corps 18:55.180 --> 18:57.236 and to the nation . And Maria was an 18:57.236 --> 19:00.189 active participant in all the families 19:00.199 --> 19:02.366 and sent council . Thank you , Maria . 19:02.366 --> 19:04.532 How about a round of applause for that 19:04.532 --> 19:03.380 family ? 19:09.550 --> 19:13.500 Yeah . So as we as we farewell , one 19:13.510 --> 19:15.732 great leader , we welcome another , you 19:15.732 --> 19:17.829 know , Chris mcfly mcphillips , this 19:17.839 --> 19:20.061 will be one of the most challenging and 19:20.061 --> 19:21.950 rewarding experiences in the most 19:21.950 --> 19:24.006 dynamic region in the world that any 19:24.006 --> 19:26.228 leader can ask for . I've heard of Indo 19:26.228 --> 19:28.395 paycom . I've never been there but now 19:28.395 --> 19:30.395 welcome to centcom . As I came into 19:30.395 --> 19:32.617 command , I received what turned out to 19:32.617 --> 19:34.617 be one of the single best pieces of 19:34.617 --> 19:34.290 advice I ever received . And this 19:34.300 --> 19:37.699 advice was given to me by a life life 19:37.709 --> 19:39.820 long mentor and friend . And it stuck 19:39.820 --> 19:42.153 with me ever since like all good advice . 19:42.153 --> 19:44.098 It was simple , memorable and most 19:44.098 --> 19:45.987 importantly , it made me a better 19:45.987 --> 19:48.098 leader . His advice was three parts . 19:48.098 --> 19:50.265 He said , first trust your instincts . 19:50.265 --> 19:52.376 His advice told me that you've gotten 19:52.376 --> 19:54.265 you this far . Your instincts and 19:54.265 --> 19:55.987 commanders have to take in the 19:55.987 --> 19:58.153 information , apply their judgment and 19:58.153 --> 20:00.265 expertise and follow that judgment to 20:00.265 --> 20:02.431 the truth . Second , use your rank for 20:02.431 --> 20:04.653 good commanders make good things happen 20:04.653 --> 20:06.931 for their soldiers , sailors , marines , 20:06.931 --> 20:06.380 airmen , guardians , and coast 20:06.390 --> 20:08.446 guardsmen . So use your rank to make 20:08.446 --> 20:10.390 life better for your marines . And 20:10.390 --> 20:12.334 lastly and most importantly , be a 20:12.334 --> 20:14.446 happy leader . You have to be the one 20:14.446 --> 20:16.501 that can see the next ridge line and 20:16.501 --> 20:18.501 push the team over it . You have to 20:18.501 --> 20:20.557 believe you can get there . I'd also 20:20.557 --> 20:22.779 like to offer a warm welcome to Chris's 20:22.779 --> 20:22.750 wife , Candace and daughter Lexi . 20:23.000 --> 20:25.167 Thank you all for all you have done to 20:25.167 --> 20:27.167 enable Chris and his career and the 20:27.167 --> 20:29.278 impact you have made on the thousands 20:29.278 --> 20:31.444 of marines in your career , our nation 20:31.444 --> 20:33.556 and our joint force could not ask for 20:33.556 --> 20:33.079 more talented leaders like the two 20:33.089 --> 20:35.329 officers you see here today to help us 20:35.339 --> 20:37.561 navigate through tough regional problem 20:37.561 --> 20:39.783 sets . I have every confidence you will 20:39.783 --> 20:41.950 both continue carrying out your duties 20:41.950 --> 20:43.839 with honor and grit that you have 20:43.839 --> 20:46.006 demonstrated every day throughout your 20:46.006 --> 20:48.228 distinguished careers . And finally , I 20:48.228 --> 20:48.140 cannot end without thanking the 20:48.150 --> 20:50.635 soldiers , sailors , marines , airmen , 20:50.655 --> 20:52.655 guardians , and coast guardsmen who 20:52.655 --> 20:54.864 continue to serve in harm's way each 20:54.875 --> 20:56.708 and every day in the saco region 20:56.708 --> 20:58.542 carrying with them the burden of 20:58.542 --> 21:00.431 defending this idea , we call the 21:00.431 --> 21:02.486 United States . I'm truly honored to 21:02.486 --> 21:04.542 stand shoulder to shoulder with them 21:04.542 --> 21:05.819 every day . Simplify , 21:15.810 --> 21:17.900 ladies and gentlemen , Major General 21:17.910 --> 21:21.849 Rock . Hi everybody . Good morning . 21:23.489 --> 21:26.270 Welcome it . It's so good to have you 21:26.280 --> 21:29.280 all joining us today at Mar . 21:29.859 --> 21:33.699 Thank you , Carla , Miss Mary Page 21:33.709 --> 21:36.589 General . Smith M Trish . Everyone , 21:36.599 --> 21:39.569 commanders , active duty , retired , 21:39.579 --> 21:41.801 some of my fellow components are here , 21:41.801 --> 21:44.290 senior leaders . It's a very 21:44.300 --> 21:47.380 distinguished audience . Indeed . You 21:47.390 --> 21:49.540 are absolutely welcome . And Marce is 21:49.550 --> 21:51.750 privileged to have you join us . My 21:51.760 --> 21:53.816 daughter greeted me because she says 21:53.816 --> 21:56.109 I'm predictable in my change of command 21:56.119 --> 21:58.119 speeches because I always start off 21:58.119 --> 22:00.286 with thanks and I'm not going to break 22:00.286 --> 22:03.520 that streak here . Thank you Smith 22:03.989 --> 22:06.550 Corolla for those kind words and for 22:06.560 --> 22:09.849 your presence here today to add an 22:09.859 --> 22:12.839 extra level of dignity to the occasion . 22:13.650 --> 22:15.920 I would also like to thank the folks 22:15.930 --> 22:19.280 who made this event today happen , led 22:19.290 --> 22:21.457 by Sergeant Major Williamson and , and 22:21.457 --> 22:23.489 all the marines that you see in the 22:23.500 --> 22:25.760 back that you see with us here today , 22:25.770 --> 22:28.189 the Marine Forces Reserve band , they 22:28.199 --> 22:30.699 wanted to send the whole band , right ? 22:30.709 --> 22:32.820 We have blown this place out . We got 22:32.820 --> 22:34.931 them to roll it back to just five and 22:34.931 --> 22:37.042 you guys still crushed it . Thanks so 22:37.042 --> 22:39.579 much . And then of course , our mighty 22:39.589 --> 22:41.700 protocol lady , MS Tabitha back there 22:41.700 --> 22:43.867 fan in herself as she tries to recover 22:43.867 --> 22:46.089 from running around for the past week . 22:46.089 --> 22:48.367 If we can just get a hand for all them , 22:55.280 --> 22:59.020 I will try to be brief . There 22:59.030 --> 23:01.270 is at least one thing I want to focus 23:01.280 --> 23:03.890 on here and probably no big surprise , 23:03.900 --> 23:07.250 but it's the professionalism and 23:08.099 --> 23:10.849 resilience of the marine sailors and 23:10.859 --> 23:13.510 civilians of the Mars sent team when I 23:13.630 --> 23:17.250 took command of Mars sent from General 23:17.260 --> 23:20.609 Mundy . Just over a year ago , the 23:20.619 --> 23:22.786 central command area of responsibility 23:22.786 --> 23:26.000 was experienced some significant 23:26.010 --> 23:28.640 turbulence and change . When I took 23:28.650 --> 23:32.010 command . We were in July of 23:32.020 --> 23:35.479 21 . We were just a month from the 23:35.489 --> 23:37.459 complete implosion of the Afghan 23:37.469 --> 23:39.191 government and the largest non 23:39.191 --> 23:41.959 combatant evacuation in us history . 23:42.329 --> 23:45.890 And similarly , as the A was changing , 23:46.050 --> 23:48.510 things were changing from Mars sent our 23:48.540 --> 23:50.689 force posture was different than many 23:50.699 --> 23:53.500 of us have been used to for decades . 23:53.510 --> 23:55.979 Honestly , I mean , it was really 23:55.989 --> 23:59.729 something to come back into this . A , 23:59.880 --> 24:02.719 an A R that so many people in this room 24:02.859 --> 24:05.810 had their professional lives heavily 24:05.819 --> 24:08.599 influenced or in fact even defined by 24:08.670 --> 24:12.040 their experiences in this region . And 24:12.050 --> 24:14.272 it really kind of puts you on your back 24:14.272 --> 24:16.810 foot a little bit trying to figure it 24:16.819 --> 24:19.489 all out . And that's where this marant 24:19.609 --> 24:22.670 team came in . If they were on their 24:22.680 --> 24:25.520 back foot , it was not for long . They 24:25.530 --> 24:27.800 driven by their professional 24:27.849 --> 24:29.738 responsibility to keep the United 24:29.738 --> 24:31.738 States Marine Corps as a service as 24:31.738 --> 24:34.209 relevant to and as supportive of the 24:34.219 --> 24:36.800 combatant commander as possible . They 24:36.810 --> 24:39.219 reoriented and they got after it . 24:41.160 --> 24:44.479 I think I just cannot express how proud 24:44.489 --> 24:47.750 I am of how they embrace 24:47.760 --> 24:50.920 change and looked for 24:50.930 --> 24:54.339 opportunity . Honestly . I mean , we 24:54.349 --> 24:57.420 may not have the same level of current 24:57.430 --> 24:59.652 operations that we did at the height of 24:59.652 --> 25:01.763 two wars , for instance . All right , 25:01.763 --> 25:04.709 but has been mentioned , this region is 25:04.719 --> 25:06.630 still incredibly important to the 25:06.640 --> 25:08.807 United States of America . Not because 25:08.807 --> 25:11.029 of just the trade and energy flows that 25:11.029 --> 25:12.973 pass through the region on a daily 25:12.973 --> 25:15.196 basis . But also the many relationships 25:15.196 --> 25:18.114 with partners that we have there that 25:18.125 --> 25:20.275 really should be non negotiable . I 25:20.285 --> 25:22.525 mean , they took a long time to build 25:22.535 --> 25:25.405 and they deserve to be maintained . 25:26.699 --> 25:28.643 I would be remiss in talking about 25:28.643 --> 25:31.000 Marson if I did not spend at least some 25:31.010 --> 25:33.150 time talking about our forces forward 25:33.160 --> 25:35.060 task force . 51 5th Marine 25:35.069 --> 25:37.349 Expeditionary Brigade was mentioned , 25:37.680 --> 25:39.719 not only are they the combatant 25:39.729 --> 25:43.030 commanders , a ready joint task force 25:43.040 --> 25:45.810 force for crisis response on a daily 25:45.819 --> 25:47.819 basis , they are out there engaging 25:47.819 --> 25:50.270 with partners improving readiness and 25:50.280 --> 25:52.619 to turn the bad guys . We've also got 25:52.630 --> 25:55.969 other marines forward , admittedly thin 25:55.979 --> 25:58.869 but nonetheless , strong network of our 25:58.880 --> 26:01.047 four coordination element that are out 26:01.047 --> 26:03.810 there engaging with partners every day . 26:04.380 --> 26:06.436 And then we also have the relatively 26:06.436 --> 26:09.140 new Mar integration team . Deliberately , 26:09.150 --> 26:10.983 Mar sent staff deliberately sent 26:10.983 --> 26:13.500 forward to better integrate with our 26:13.880 --> 26:16.319 nascent counterparts . These folks keep 26:16.329 --> 26:19.810 us keep us plugged in to our partners , 26:19.819 --> 26:22.329 to the embassy country teams and to our 26:22.339 --> 26:24.609 nascent brothers and sisters . So we 26:24.619 --> 26:26.630 will be more effective in the fight 26:26.640 --> 26:29.890 that we prepare for every day . The 26:29.900 --> 26:32.011 intrepid maven exercise was mentioned 26:32.011 --> 26:33.678 and that kind of that kind of 26:33.678 --> 26:35.733 highlights all the things that those 26:35.733 --> 26:37.789 folks forward and the folks in Tampa 26:37.789 --> 26:39.789 are doing to get better every day . 26:39.789 --> 26:41.733 We've done seven of them with five 26:41.733 --> 26:43.733 different partners and every one of 26:43.733 --> 26:45.956 them is focused on readiness , but it's 26:45.956 --> 26:47.900 not just readiness of the exercise 26:47.900 --> 26:50.369 forces , it is also readiness of the 26:50.640 --> 26:53.819 enterprise from Tampa into , into the A 26:53.910 --> 26:56.930 R getting sharp at the skills that we 26:56.939 --> 26:59.420 know we are going to need when we have 26:59.430 --> 27:01.930 to respond to crisis or execute a war 27:01.939 --> 27:04.250 plan or whatever and bring in forces 27:04.260 --> 27:06.650 into theater , setting the theater for 27:06.660 --> 27:08.493 them to be as successful as they 27:08.493 --> 27:10.319 possibly can be . With the only 27:10.329 --> 27:12.385 standard being that they're going to 27:12.385 --> 27:15.630 win . It is not lost on me that 27:15.829 --> 27:18.699 we have as the general mentioned , an 27:19.739 --> 27:21.406 amphibious ready group marine 27:21.406 --> 27:24.420 expeditionary unit sailing into our 27:24.430 --> 27:27.640 area of responsibility merely days . 27:27.650 --> 27:29.817 Hence , and I remind her of that quote 27:29.817 --> 27:32.270 about the guy who plants the tree that 27:32.280 --> 27:34.391 he will never see the shade . And I'm 27:34.391 --> 27:36.558 feeling a little bit like that , but , 27:36.558 --> 27:38.502 you know , I'm trying to see a big 27:38.502 --> 27:40.859 picture here . That is that is the 27:40.869 --> 27:43.500 Maren team . They are going , they have 27:43.510 --> 27:45.510 practice , they have staged sharp , 27:45.510 --> 27:47.732 they can and will bring those skills to 27:47.732 --> 27:50.489 bear to enable this mu to be 27:50.500 --> 27:53.359 tremendously successful as a part of 27:53.369 --> 27:55.202 the combatant commander maritime 27:55.202 --> 27:58.140 campaign and the services commitment to 27:58.150 --> 28:01.229 crisis response . On a personal level , 28:01.329 --> 28:03.385 we just have a lot of good people in 28:03.385 --> 28:05.551 Mars and it has really been a pleasure 28:05.551 --> 28:07.551 coming to work with them on a daily 28:07.551 --> 28:09.496 basis from our most junior marines 28:09.496 --> 28:13.099 whose energy , curiosity and motivation 28:13.140 --> 28:16.959 is absolutely inspiring to our most 28:16.969 --> 28:19.180 senior staff N CS teaching lessons 28:19.189 --> 28:21.900 every day to our Officer Corps . Our 28:21.910 --> 28:24.077 dynamically tasked officer Corps , you 28:24.077 --> 28:25.910 may have a military occupational 28:25.910 --> 28:27.743 specialty when you show up . But 28:27.743 --> 28:29.910 believe me , you're going to be ripped 28:29.910 --> 28:29.449 out of it because we get after what 28:29.459 --> 28:31.403 needs getting after and it doesn't 28:31.403 --> 28:33.681 matter what your MS is . And of course , 28:33.681 --> 28:36.079 the command team I have , I'm 28:36.089 --> 28:38.550 absolutely blessed with my command 28:38.560 --> 28:40.719 group . I see my old chief here , my 28:40.729 --> 28:43.500 current Chief Stum Perez , current 28:43.510 --> 28:47.300 Chief Matt Nation and I also see S 28:47.420 --> 28:50.119 Major Lunsford cleaned up . Make sure 28:50.130 --> 28:52.019 you compliment him . He's looking 28:52.019 --> 28:54.130 pretty sharp and ready , ready to put 28:54.130 --> 28:56.297 the uniform back on . Great to see you 28:56.297 --> 28:58.463 and Major Williamson , of course , and 28:58.463 --> 29:00.949 the whole front office team , it is , 29:00.959 --> 29:03.030 it's been an absolute , an absolute 29:03.040 --> 29:06.239 privilege as I am accustomed to and as 29:06.250 --> 29:09.869 my daughter has previously identified , 29:09.880 --> 29:13.310 I will , I will finish with a thank you 29:13.319 --> 29:17.219 to my lovely wife who you know , 29:17.229 --> 29:19.396 this is never supposed to happen , but 29:19.396 --> 29:21.507 no , I didn't mean to get choked up , 29:21.507 --> 29:23.729 but I'm not at all . Just ignore that . 29:23.729 --> 29:26.410 But thank you for everything that you 29:26.420 --> 29:28.020 do on a daily basis . 29:30.410 --> 29:32.859 Words fail me . You're pretty awesome . 29:33.310 --> 29:37.239 I also like to recognize , recognize 29:37.250 --> 29:39.609 and thank my youngest son , Joseph . 29:39.619 --> 29:42.869 He's here , Reverend for his sister , 29:43.300 --> 29:45.411 Julia and older brother Sean can't be 29:45.411 --> 29:47.890 here . Good job . He also turned into 29:47.900 --> 29:50.390 the crisis . Taxi driver to get folks 29:50.400 --> 29:53.609 to the gate so well done . And 29:53.979 --> 29:57.569 last but not least John , thank you 29:57.579 --> 29:59.801 very much . Very kind of you to mention 29:59.801 --> 30:01.912 my dad who recently kicked cancer's . 30:11.630 --> 30:13.849 But I know right now that he's sitting 30:13.859 --> 30:16.770 there cheek to cheek with my mom and , 30:16.780 --> 30:18.780 and knowing my mom , she's grinning 30:18.780 --> 30:21.000 like this and firing volley after 30:21.010 --> 30:24.989 volley of prayer requests to the 30:25.000 --> 30:28.069 big guy call sign golf Zero Delta to 30:28.079 --> 30:30.246 get all the blessings possible for her 30:30.246 --> 30:32.829 oldest son . Hi mom . Hi dad . Good to 30:32.839 --> 30:35.410 see you with that . I will get off the 30:35.420 --> 30:39.040 stage again . Welcome to Marant . Thank 30:39.050 --> 30:41.609 you for joining us and it is time to 30:41.619 --> 30:43.175 introduce a new commander . 30:56.369 --> 31:00.109 Thank you for coming General Kla 31:00.400 --> 31:02.567 Mary Page . Thank you very much and to 31:02.567 --> 31:05.040 the other general officers and retired 31:05.050 --> 31:07.272 general officers in the room , it means 31:07.272 --> 31:09.494 a lot to both rocket and I that you are 31:09.494 --> 31:11.869 here . I could list all the folks in 31:11.880 --> 31:13.991 the room off , but I know everybody's 31:13.991 --> 31:16.158 hot here . And the last thing you want 31:16.158 --> 31:18.324 to hear is the new guy rambling on for 31:18.324 --> 31:20.324 a long time . But I do want to take 31:20.324 --> 31:22.650 just a very short minute here to say 31:22.660 --> 31:25.280 thank you for General Smith , sir . I 31:25.290 --> 31:29.180 know um that command 31:29.189 --> 31:32.229 is a privilege and it's sacred and I 31:32.239 --> 31:34.183 intend to treat it that way . So , 31:34.183 --> 31:36.350 thanks for the confidence and , and uh 31:36.350 --> 31:38.550 let me lead again . I appreciate that 31:38.560 --> 31:40.671 very much , sir . I'm looking forward 31:40.671 --> 31:42.869 to being part of the team , uh going 31:42.880 --> 31:44.936 forward . You have can and I , and , 31:44.936 --> 31:47.329 and Lexi's full devotion here as we 31:47.339 --> 31:50.150 move forward . There's a host of folks 31:50.160 --> 31:52.530 in the room that have made the trip 31:52.540 --> 31:55.520 here , the bonds , my sister Wendy , 31:55.530 --> 31:57.697 who is married to a marine , she knows 31:57.697 --> 31:59.808 the drill . She volunteered to come , 31:59.808 --> 32:02.650 help us move here and has been an 32:02.660 --> 32:06.550 invaluable part of the transition here 32:06.560 --> 32:09.119 for us , relieved a lot of stress for 32:09.130 --> 32:11.463 us and for everybody else that traveled . 32:11.463 --> 32:13.800 Thank you very much . I would , I'll 32:13.819 --> 32:17.000 close by saying , thank you to Rocket 32:17.010 --> 32:20.930 for turning over or handing over a high 32:20.939 --> 32:22.606 functioning , high performing 32:22.606 --> 32:26.599 organization . I intend to 32:26.609 --> 32:29.949 continue to ensure that cent 32:29.959 --> 32:32.660 remains the commander's crisis response 32:32.670 --> 32:36.119 force in Premer . We will 32:36.130 --> 32:38.819 continue to take care of our marines . 32:38.829 --> 32:40.773 We will continue to strengthen our 32:40.773 --> 32:43.180 partnerships in the region with the 32:43.189 --> 32:44.719 resources that we have 32:47.849 --> 32:50.130 and we'll continue to innovate right 32:50.140 --> 32:52.307 through things like intrepid maven and 32:52.307 --> 32:54.500 those kind of things uh to get the job 32:54.510 --> 32:57.229 done in in uh central command and to 32:57.239 --> 32:59.406 move the Marine Corps initiatives like 32:59.406 --> 33:01.489 force design and other things for uh 33:01.510 --> 33:04.449 given our , our role on that . So , uh 33:04.459 --> 33:06.681 thank you very much to the folks in the 33:06.681 --> 33:08.792 front row for coming . It means a lot 33:08.792 --> 33:11.650 to us . Rocket , thanks again for the 33:11.660 --> 33:14.719 wonderful turnover and God speed to you 33:14.989 --> 33:17.280 and your wife as you transition to DC . 33:17.410 --> 33:20.239 Finally last but not least . Thank you 33:20.250 --> 33:23.469 to my wife and daughter , Lexi has 33:23.479 --> 33:25.701 moved about as many times as she's been 33:25.701 --> 33:28.390 alive . She's tough and resilient and I 33:28.400 --> 33:30.289 love you . And thank you for that 33:30.289 --> 33:32.680 Candace . Thanks for putting up with 33:32.689 --> 33:35.750 the gun club that I'm in . Um 33:36.050 --> 33:39.680 you are resilient . You always find a 33:39.689 --> 33:43.410 way to um solve problems and make 33:43.420 --> 33:46.319 yourself valuable wherever we go . So I 33:46.329 --> 33:48.440 love you and , and thank you for that 33:48.440 --> 33:51.439 very much . All right . So , uh that'll 33:51.449 --> 33:53.839 be my closing comments here and I'm 33:53.849 --> 33:55.960 gonna turn it over back to the master 33:55.960 --> 33:57.516 guns . Thank you . Thanks , 34:05.839 --> 34:08.389 ladies and gentlemen , please rise for 34:08.399 --> 34:10.399 the playing of Anchors Away and the 34:10.399 --> 34:11.399 marines hymn . 34:22.360 --> 34:23.360 Mhm . 35:32.110 --> 35:34.340 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 35:34.350 --> 35:36.949 our ceremony on behalf of Major General 35:36.959 --> 35:39.159 Rock and Major General mcphillips . We 35:39.169 --> 35:40.947 thank you for attending today's 35:40.947 --> 35:42.836 ceremony . Light refreshments are 35:42.836 --> 35:44.780 provided in the back of the room . 35:44.780 --> 35:47.330 Simplify , right ?