Photo By Cpl. Ali Azimi | Lt. Col. Greg Poland (right), former 1st Tank Battalion commanding officer,...... read more read more
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TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - After two years as the commanding officer of 1st Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. Greg Poland relinquished command of the battalion during a change of command ceremony at the battalion’s ramp June 20.
Poland relinquished command of 1st Tanks to Lt. Col. Ralph Rush in front of battalion members and honored quests, including Maj. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division.
“This is one of those battalions that never disappoints,” Nicholson said. “They are always on their game. Everything we’ve asked [Poland] to do, he’s done in a terrific manner.”
The ceremony featured music played by the 1st Marine Division Band and a display of the unit’s tactical vehicles and equipment.
The band performed for patrons until the beginning of the ceremony. They then marched to the side of the field, followed by four company-sized formations of 1st Tanks’ Marines.
The Marines stood in formation, awaiting the appointment of their new commander.
Poland and Rush took their places in view of the audience as the battalion sergeant major walked up to them with the battalion colors in hand. Poland took hold of the colors and passed it off to Rush, representing the official passing of authority.
“I’ve had the dream job here the past few years,” Poland said. “It’s been a great team up here.”
The ceremony ended with the pass and review, at which point the four platoons of Marines marched passed Poland and Rush to bid farewell to their old commander and welcome the new.
“I’m back in the blue diamond,” Rush said. “I am humbled; very, very humbled.”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2014 12:49 |
| Story ID: | 134509 |
| Location: | CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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