Few visitors rouse excitement in the base community like the highest-ranking officer in the Marine Corps. Marines and civilians attended a townhall meeting Oct. 1 in Little Hall to hear Gen. Robert Neller, the newly­appointed commandant, speak during his 90-day tour of Marine bases. Attendees were given the opportunity to interact face-to-face with the new commandant.

“What motivates you, sir,” asked Lance Cpl. Bailey Carpenter, military police officer in Security Battalion, during the townhall meeting full of civilians and Marines of all echelons.

“You do!” barked the 37th commandant of the United States Marine Corps. “I want to hear your thoughts …What is the next step? What ideas do you have to get us ready for next war?”

Marines have added space and cyber capabilities to its historical air, land and sea capabilities. Those jobs are filled by Marines like Bailey, who represent 65 percent of active duty Marines under the age of 25-years-old, what Neller calls an essential source of knowledge and capability essential for today’s fight.

“Success is bringing your A-game each day and working to the best of your ability. I want you to be an expert in your profession and become tactically proficient, while remaining mentally fit and morally fit,” said the 40-year infantry officer as he shared his leadership tools. “I want you to be as successful as you can be, because that is going to make our Marine Corps a success.”

As I speak, Marines are training with the Navy in preparation for hurricane relief so that they can quickly provide assistance if called upon," said Neller. “That’s what we do.” There are Marines deployed to the Middle East guarding an embassy in Baghdad and training international troops, “because our work doesn’t stop here at home,” described Neller. “Historically, the Marines have been ready when the nation needs us, you came here to go somewhere and do something; and your time will come if you stick around.”

Reflecting on past conflicts, Neller stressed the importance of understanding the adversaries of America in order to prepare for next fight.

“Everything we do is about warfighting. We are not going to do anything that is not going to make us more ready or make us more capable on the battlefield,” he said to the audience of multi-echelon warfighters. “The world is changing … our enemies are changing, and so we have to be able to change.”

Following his address, Neller opened up the floor for questions. He discussed leadership, realistic training, gender-based restrictions in the military, and the effects of alcohol abuse in the military.

In his final words he said, “I trust you to be an organization the American people can count on.”

— Writer: iirby@quanticosentryonline.com