Marine Corps Base Quantico -- Weapons Training Battalion (WTBN) aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico held a change of command ceremony June 30 at which Col. Timothy Parker relinquished command to Col. Peter Farnum.
Parker, who assumed command of WTBN in May 2014, has been assigned to the Marine Corps Field Artillery Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Farnum most recently served as a Senior Military Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He has been the public affairs officer for Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. He graduated Amphibious Warfare School and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom I as Weapons Company commander and in Operation Iraqi Freedom II as operations officer, both for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.
“[Farnum] is a warrior and a scholar,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Bohm, commanding general of Training Command. “He is the right man for this job at this time.”
Bohm said that WTBN is a small unit but its impact is extraordinary.
“It touches the entire Corps,” he said. “And no one knows that better than our enemies.”
Bohm decorated Parker with a gold star for his leadership of WTBN. He praised Parker for being “a true advocate for marksmanship” and listed the many accomplishments of his tenure: revitalizing the combat marksmanship symposium, developing new threat weapons, modifying the combat pistol program, working on improving tactics and procedures for the scout sniper community, and advocating for making scout sniper a primary MOS.
After Sgt. Maj. Ansil Lewis facilitated the ceremonial passing of the battalion colors from Parker to Farnum, Farnum removed his MARPAT utility cover and replaced it with the officer’s version of the wide-brimmed campaign hat traditionally worn by instructors and marksmen. Parker did the reverse, symbolizing his return to the fleet.
In his remarks, Parker thanked the battalion Marines for being passionate about marksmanship.
“They came in early and stayed late and it wasn’t because I told them to,” he said. “They’re just that passionate. Then they come here on the weekends and participate in recreational shoots.”
“I’ve been humbled by this post,” he continued. “There wasn’t a day when I wasn’t humbled to be here.”
To Farnum, he said, “These Marines will push you every day. They care so much.”
Farnum said he was excited to “once again have the opportunity to be in command of a truly unique organization with a huge span of influence.”
“I will dedicate all I have until my very last breath to your success,” he told the battalion Marines. “I celebrate your passion.”
He finished by thanking Parker for giving him “the greatest turn-over I’ve ever received.”
Writer: auphausconner@quanticosentryonline.com