Marine1955
07-12-23, 09:54 AM
MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON — A Monday morning ceremony marking the end of Gen. David Berger’s four years as commandant involved all the usual trappings.
It had the music and marching onto the Marine Barracks Washington parade field, the passing of the Corps’ official battle colors, and the reading of Berger’s orders to relinquish command and retire.
But as Berger passed the colors to Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, the ceremony’s narrator did not read orders for Smith to take command of the service. And the “Home of the Commandants,” (https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/home/2022/08/22/marines-dedicate-home-for-top-enlisted-marine-at-historic-barracks/)the nearly 220-year-old white house at the end of the parade field, will sit empty upon Berger’s departure.
For the first time since 1910, there is no Senate-confirmed commandant of the Marine Corps at the helm of the service.
While Smith and his wife, Trish, won’t be moving their boxes into the house quite yet, he will have the powers of a confirmed Marine commandant.
It had the music and marching onto the Marine Barracks Washington parade field, the passing of the Corps’ official battle colors, and the reading of Berger’s orders to relinquish command and retire.
But as Berger passed the colors to Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, the ceremony’s narrator did not read orders for Smith to take command of the service. And the “Home of the Commandants,” (https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/home/2022/08/22/marines-dedicate-home-for-top-enlisted-marine-at-historic-barracks/)the nearly 220-year-old white house at the end of the parade field, will sit empty upon Berger’s departure.
For the first time since 1910, there is no Senate-confirmed commandant of the Marine Corps at the helm of the service.
While Smith and his wife, Trish, won’t be moving their boxes into the house quite yet, he will have the powers of a confirmed Marine commandant.