Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group celebrates historic relief and appointment ceremony

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero | Sergeants Maj. Carl Gantt and Thomas Hall share some parting words of encouragement at MCTAG's relief and appointment ceremony, Aug. 12. Gantt, who is a native of Montgomery, Ala., is the new senior enlisted advisor at Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group. Hall, who is a Bardestown, Ky., native, is transferring to Marine Corps Special Operations Command.  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

08.12.2011

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

VIRGINA BEACH, Va. - More than 100 Marines, sailors and family members from Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group gathered to witness a historic event when the command celebrated its first relief and appointment ceremony at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Harbor Master Facility, today.

During the ceremony, Sgt. Maj. Carl Gantt assumed duties as MCTAG sergeant major from Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hall during the traditional passing of the non-commissioned officer sword, which symbolizes the transfer of responsibility, knowledge and leadership to the new sergeant major for a unit.

Gantt, who is a native of Montgomery, Ala., transferred to MCTAG from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., where he served as battalion sergeant major since May 2009.

This is a homecoming of sorts for Gantt, who previously served in the same facility that MCTAG is located at within JEB Little Creek-Fort Story as a reconnaissance instructor for the Amphibious Reconnaissance School from 1997 – 2002. Gantt was joined at the ceremony by his wife Carrie who is an English teacher at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Va., since 1999.

At the completion of the ceremony, Hall transferred to Marine Corps Special Operations Command aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he will assume duty as the command sergeant major. A sergeant major is the senior enlisted Marine who advises the commanding officer on all matters pertaining to the unit.

Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group is a unit that coordinates, executes and evaluates Marine Corps security cooperation programs and activities to include assessments, planning, related education and training, and advisory support to ensure building Partner Nation Security Force capacity and capabilities in order to facilitate U.S. Marine Corps and regional Marine Forces component command security cooperation objectives.

• Date Taken: 08.12.2011
• Date Posted: 08.12.2011 16:43
• Story ID: 75274
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, US