thedrifter
09-01-08, 07:34 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —In the years since the first Marine Corps Association luncheon aboard Camp Lejeune in 2004, the program has hosted prestigious individuals as guest speakers.
Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, addressed both active and retired Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers and their guests during the Camp Lejeune MCA Professional Luncheon, Aug. 27.
“The event provides an opportunity for Marines, Sailors, retirees, and guests to come out, listen to a great speaker, and get word right from the top,” said retired Marine Col. Al Karle, the MCA local area representative. “We do the luncheon as a part of professional development, dissemination of knowledge, and spirit and tradition.”
Before the luncheon began, Kent spent his time moving from table to table, meeting and conversing with attendees. Shortly after stepping behind the podium, he extended a special thanks to the wounded warriors, families and retirees in attendance before turning his attention to the Marines.
“I get really motivated, just like our commandant, when I get around a group of warriors and families,” Kent said. “Because, truly, it’s not me or the commandant who make great things happen in the Marine Corps, it’s you all.”
Kent spoke of the positive changes he had seen in Al Anbar province during a recent trip to Iraq, and how the Marines were key to this progress.
“I was in Iraq talking to Marines a week and a half ago, and there were some on their second, third and fourth deployments,” Kent said. “They constantly just want to fight, fight, fight for their nation and for our Corps. They want to live up to the legacy, and that’s a proud moment.”
Kent expressed some concerns for troop dwell time, and mentioned the steps the Marine Corps is making toward a remedy.
“We have Marines who deploy for seven months and are only back seven before they go again,” Kent said. “The commandant’s goal is to have 14 months dwell time and seven months deployed.”
He cited growing the number of Marines in the Corps as a way to make this change possible, but was sure to emphasize that the Marine Corps would not lower its recruiting standards to do so.
In one of his final topics, Kent verbalized the need for the Marine Corps to return to it’s original purpose.
“Right now, we’re landlocked,” Kent said. “The commandant is focused on getting us back to our expeditionary roots, because expeditionary is what we do best.”
Kent’s presence made an impact on the crowd.
“It’s great to have the senior enlisted Marine in the Marine Corps come down and talk about current issues,” said Cpl. Peter S. Browne, a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. “He talked about what they’re doing to support us, and as a young noncommissioned officer, it’s good to have that support.”
Kent’s Camp Lejeune trip came shortly after visits to Marines and Sailors in the Middle East, Africa, Hawaii, and Phoenix, and will continue his tour, supporting Marines and their family members all over the world.
For more information on II MEF (Fwd), visit the unit’s web site at http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd, and to learn about the ongoing mission in Iraq, go to http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil.
Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, addressed both active and retired Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers and their guests during the Camp Lejeune MCA Professional Luncheon, Aug. 27.
“The event provides an opportunity for Marines, Sailors, retirees, and guests to come out, listen to a great speaker, and get word right from the top,” said retired Marine Col. Al Karle, the MCA local area representative. “We do the luncheon as a part of professional development, dissemination of knowledge, and spirit and tradition.”
Before the luncheon began, Kent spent his time moving from table to table, meeting and conversing with attendees. Shortly after stepping behind the podium, he extended a special thanks to the wounded warriors, families and retirees in attendance before turning his attention to the Marines.
“I get really motivated, just like our commandant, when I get around a group of warriors and families,” Kent said. “Because, truly, it’s not me or the commandant who make great things happen in the Marine Corps, it’s you all.”
Kent spoke of the positive changes he had seen in Al Anbar province during a recent trip to Iraq, and how the Marines were key to this progress.
“I was in Iraq talking to Marines a week and a half ago, and there were some on their second, third and fourth deployments,” Kent said. “They constantly just want to fight, fight, fight for their nation and for our Corps. They want to live up to the legacy, and that’s a proud moment.”
Kent expressed some concerns for troop dwell time, and mentioned the steps the Marine Corps is making toward a remedy.
“We have Marines who deploy for seven months and are only back seven before they go again,” Kent said. “The commandant’s goal is to have 14 months dwell time and seven months deployed.”
He cited growing the number of Marines in the Corps as a way to make this change possible, but was sure to emphasize that the Marine Corps would not lower its recruiting standards to do so.
In one of his final topics, Kent verbalized the need for the Marine Corps to return to it’s original purpose.
“Right now, we’re landlocked,” Kent said. “The commandant is focused on getting us back to our expeditionary roots, because expeditionary is what we do best.”
Kent’s presence made an impact on the crowd.
“It’s great to have the senior enlisted Marine in the Marine Corps come down and talk about current issues,” said Cpl. Peter S. Browne, a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. “He talked about what they’re doing to support us, and as a young noncommissioned officer, it’s good to have that support.”
Kent’s Camp Lejeune trip came shortly after visits to Marines and Sailors in the Middle East, Africa, Hawaii, and Phoenix, and will continue his tour, supporting Marines and their family members all over the world.
For more information on II MEF (Fwd), visit the unit’s web site at http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd, and to learn about the ongoing mission in Iraq, go to http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil.