Photo By Cpl. Ali Azimi | Lt. Col. Kevin Murray relinquishes command of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron...... read more read more
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TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 held a change of command ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, June 18.
The ceremony passed the on the duties and responsibilities as the unit’s commander from Lt. Col. Murray to Lt. Col. Kain C. Anderson.
The ceremony began with music played by the 3rd Marine Air Wing band at the center of the field. As the squadron prepared for the change of command, band members marched to the side of the field.
The squadron and the VMU-1 color guard marched onto the field to watch the change of leadership from Murray to Anderson.
Murray has been with the unit, also known as the “Watchdogs,” since 2012, first as the executive officer and later taking command of the squadron. He led the watchdogs through several deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as on the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
However, Murray passed on much of the credit of the success of VMU-1 to his Marines.
“I don’t think [[some people] understand the scope of what [these Marines] have brought to the fight,” Murray said. “These Marines have flown over 65,000 hours. It’s unbelievable.”
The VMU-1 Marines he had led stood at attention in formations at the edge of the field. They looked ahead as Murray stood beside Anderson – their current and future commanders. The Marine Corps colors were handed to Murray and passed on to Anderson, officially transferring leadership from one Marine to the other.
“I asked for VMU,” Anderson said after taking command of the squadron. “After 10 years of [Counter Insurgency Operations], you are going to see cultural and organizational changes,”
Anderson left the field with the eyes of the squadron on him and a plan for the future of the Watchdogs.
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2014 17:59 |
| Story ID: | 133712 |
| Location: | CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 463 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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