Conway Becomes Marine Corps Commandant
13 November Stars and Stripes - Conway Becomes Marine Corps Commandant by Jeff Schogol.
Quote:
Gen. James Conway officially became the 34th Marine Corps Commandant on Monday at a ceremony at the Marine Corps Barracks here.
He replaces Gen. Michael Hagee, who is retiring from the Marine Corps, officials said.
Conway commanded the I Marine Expeditionary Force during two combat tours in Iraq and most recently served on the Joint Staff, which assists the Joint Chiefs of Staff in accomplishing its tasks...
Here is a copy of the Passing of the Colors ALMAR that was e-mailed to me earlier today:
Quote:
UNCLAS 131201Z NOV 06 CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
ALMAR
ALMAR 050/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/PASSING OF THE COLORS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. MARINES, AS YOUR NEW COMMANDANT, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU. AROUND THE GLOBE, YOU HAVE ACQUITTED YOURSELF WITH DISTINCTION AND HONOR BOTH IN COMBAT AND IN PEACE.
THIS GENERATION OF MARINES HAS ABLY SHOULDERED THE BATTLE COLORS OF THE CORPS COLORS PASSED TO US BY THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE IN OUR NATION S HISTORY. TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE, WE OWE MUCH; TO OUR NATION S SECURITY, WE DEVOTE OURSELVES FULLY.
2. MUCH OF WHAT OUR CORPS HAS ACCOMPLISHED HAS BEEN DUE TO THE WARTIME LEADERSHIP OF GENERAL HAGEE AND THE SUPPORT OF HIS WIFE, SILKE. WHEN GENERAL HAGEE ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE 33RD COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, THE CORPS WAS FULLY ENGAGED IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM, BUT NOT YET COMMITTED IN IRAQ. HE LED THE CORPS AS IT MOBILIZED FOR IRAQ AND AS IT TRANSFORMED FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE LONG WAR. GENERAL HAGEE S EXHAUSTIVE EFFORTS TO ENSURE OUR MARINES WERE PROVIDED THE BEST EQUIPMENT IS WORTHY OF ALL OF OUR RESPECT AND GRATITUDE. MY WIFE, ANNETTE, AND I SALUTE BOTH GENERAL AND MRS. HAGEE S SUPPORT FOR ALL OF OUR WOUNDED MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE HAGEES EMBODY OUR CORPS COMMITMENT TO TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN. 3. MARINES, THE NEXT FEW YEARS WILL BE TOUGH. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A COMPLEX WAR THAT WILL NOT BE OVER SOON; HOWEVER, IT IS A WAR WE MUST WIN! BELOW ARE MY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WHICH I WILL MORE FULLY DESCRIBE IN THE COMMANDANT S PLANNING GUIDANCE BUT BE CERTAIN OF THIS: OUR MARINES AND SAILORS IN COMBAT ARE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THOSE IN HARM S WAY DESERVE OUR FULLEST ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.
4. OUR FOCUS AREAS:
- ACHIEVE VICTORY IN THE LONG WAR.
- RIGHT-SIZE OUR CORPS TO ACHIEVE A 1:2 DEPLOYMENT-TO-DWELL RATIO.
- PROVIDE OUR NATION A NAVAL FORCE THAT IS FULLY PREPARED FOR EMPLOYMENT ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT.
- RESET AND MODERNIZE TO BE MOST READY WHEN THE NATION IS LEAST READY.
- IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO OUR CORE VALUES AND WARRIOR ETHOS.
- POSTURE THE MARINE CORPS FOR THE FUTURE.
5. YOU WILL SOON RECEIVE MY COMMANDANT’S PLANNING GUIDANCE (CPG). WITHIN 30 DAYS, I WANT COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS TO REVIEW THIS GUIDANCE WITH THEIR MARINES, SAILORS, AND CIVILIANS. I PLAN TO VISIT MANY OF YOU OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. I WILL SEEK YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE CPG AND YOUR IDEAS HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DEFEAT OUR ADVERSARIES, BEST SERVE OUR NATION, AND FORGE THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE PROUD HISTORY OF OUR CORPS.
SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
