Photo By Sgt. Charles Santamaria | Staff Sgt. Marcus B. Bailey, euphonium player, 1st Marine Division Band, Marine Corps...... read more read more
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TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Preparing Marines for survival in mountainous terrain and high elevations is what the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center is known for. Although the mission of the base remains the same throughout the years, leadership and personnel will change and uphold the standard set by those who came before.
A change of command ceremony was hosted at Post 1 aboard the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, June 27, 2014. Col. John J. Carroll Jr. relinquished duties to Col. Scott Leonard.
“This is a really good team of Marines,” Carroll said. “It is because of the men and women who stand behind me today that MCMWTC runs as smoothly as it does. Leaving the base, I believe it’s in great hands from operations and training to the staff. ”
Leonard served a joint-duty assignment to United States Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as the J71 Training and Exercise Division Chief where he was promoted to colonel. Leonard sees the work and effort that has gone into the base and training by Carroll, the Marines, and instructors.
“As the commanding officer, I want to make sure the Marines have all the support and things needed to continue what Col. Carroll and the staff have done to revitalize the base,” Leonard said. “I’m looking forward to the future with Marines who are passionate in what they do and instructors qualified to meet the challenge of teaching Marines to fight in this terrain. I believe some of the best mountaineers in the world are the mountain leaders aboard this base.”
Before the ceremony, Carroll and Leonard met each other as second lieutenants with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. Twenty-two years later, they met again as Colonels in a ceremony where one would pass the torch to the other with the duty of training Marines in mountain warfare.
“We understand that battalion commanders want to provide the best training possible for their Marines,” Carroll said. “If a unit wants to challenge their Marines physically and mentally … this is where they should come.”
MCMWTC trains battalion-sized elements in mountainous terrain for winter and summer months. Classes such as assault climbing, survival class, mountain leader course, and animal packers are offered. Mountain training exercises and training packages are also offered for all branches.
“We touch the whole Marine Corps as infantry battalions come to train on this terrain,” Carroll said. “We prepare Marines by challenging them through the courses we offer and pass on skills that will make them more versatile … the training center prepares the Marine Corps to take on mountainous terrain and fight in ‘every clime and place.’”
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2014 19:38 |
| Story ID: | 135179 |
| Location: | TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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