Dunford continues to blaze a trail to the top

Long time readers will remember the Marine General "Fighting Joe" Dunford from the past several years of posts. In June 2010 when General Amos was nominated to replace General Conway as Commandant, I expressed the opinion that Dunford, then a 3-star and CG of I MEF, may have been a better choice. He had been elevated from 1 to 3-star rank quickly [never actually holding 2-star grade] and his combat experience in Afghanistan was both exemplary and proved he wasn't just a politician but perhaps he was too young [at 55] to be elevated to the USMC's #1 spot just yet.

Dunford did however assume the Vice Commandant's position and a fourth star that October. Exactly two years later in October 2012 I blogged when he was nominated to command the ISAF which he did in February 2013 replacing General Allen and then last June when the man was nominated for Commandant, a position he assumed last October replacing General Amos.

Now only in his 7th month as Commandant, President Obama has unexpectedly nominated Dunford to replace Army General Martin Dempsey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when his tour ends in the Autumn. I would have expected Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odinero or Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear, Commander, US Pacific Command to have been tapped for the billet but it looks like they're retiring.

General Dempsey said: “I've known General Dunford for almost half of his 39 years of service,... He is a phenomenal, combat-tested leader and a man of integrity, courage and humility." He's known for keeping his cool under pressure, Marine Gen. James "Mad Dog" Mattis, former CENTCOM commander said he once saw a grenade pass over Dunford's Humvee in Iraq and explode 100 yards away. "He barely glanced up and then went right back to writing his orders."

Amos a surprise tap to replace Conway

If I was a betting man, I'd have lost money Monday as Secretary Of Defense Robert Gates announced his recommendation that current Assistant Commandant General James F. Amos replace General James T. Conway [right] as the 35th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps when Conway retires in the Autumn.

The odds of Amos [left] being picked were remote for two main reasons: One is only 5 out of the previous 30 officers whom have held the Assistant Commandant position have been selected to continue on as Commandant, the latest one being General Paul X. Kelley in 1983. The second reason is that in the entire history of the Marine Corps, only infantry officers have ever served as Commandants and Amos is an aviator.

My money would have been on Lt. General Joseph F. "Fighting Joe" Dunford, the current Commanding General of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command - basically the top Marine in Afghanistan and Iraq. Failing Dunford, I'd have gone for General James N. "Mad Dog" Mattis, current Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation as being commandant would be an extraordinary capstone to his incredible career.

I have no issue with Amos however, he is a man with his own ideas an opinions and had not just played second-fiddle to Jim Conway for 4 years. In fact I suspect that Gates may have chosen him partly because he's less hardlined against the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy than I suspect Mattis [right] would be and I know Conway is. General Dunford at 55 is likely in retrospect considered to be fairly young for the position and may have had trouble commanding the respect of the older generals, but Gates has tapped him for the Assistant Commandant position, so perhaps he'll grow from there.

As for Amos, during my famous visit to the 8th and I in March '09 as we passed the Assistant Commandant's house, I recall Gunny Price pointing out what a strange metal bar braced over the General's basement entrance was for "That's where General Amos does his pull ups every morning" he said. When he noticed my shock he smiled "Yeah, he's in his 60's!"

Happy 234th Birthday USMC

And once again we have a Birthday message from The Commandant, General James T. Conway. Semper Fi.

HAPPY 232nd BIRTHDAY USMC

I visited the deck of the USS Intrepid berthed in New York on November 10th 2004, a part of a holiday with some friends. I met a Marine Staff Sergeant on board who was obviously just visiting himself, showing his gal around. My buddy approached him and requested that he pose with me for this photograph. I think he just wanted to see if the Sergeant would recognise me, I dunno. As we parted company following the photo session, I said "Happy Birthday," much to the confusion of our companions. He smiled "Thank you, God bless you!"

I was asked how I knew it was his birthday? "I feel it's mine too in a way," I answered.

Since creation of this blog, I've left this day's main post in the capable hands of the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps in the form of an unedited, unabridged ALMAR (All Marines bulletin). There is a difference today however, the current Commandant General James T. Conway has moved with the times as the Marine Corps has and has created the following video to play as he speaks. Also behold the opening narration from the legendary Sam Elliot speaking the words of Captain John Thomason.

Happy Birthday Marines

Thunder Chickens Deployed

The USMC has finally deployed the first combat squadron of V-22 Ospreys to Iraq.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 better known as "The Thunder Chickens" with 10 Ospreys left Monday from New River Air Station aboard the USS Wasp. In April, the Commandant, General Conway said the squadron would deploy to Al-Asad Airfield, the second largest air base in Iraq.

The military plans to eventually operate 458 Ospreys, with 360 for the Marine Corps and the others used by the Navy and Air Force, said Major Eric Dent. Of the negative press and teething problems of the revolutionary aircraft he added "Since it resumed full flight operations more than six years ago, aircrews have logged more than 27,000 safe flight hours."

Lt. Colonel Creedon said of the Thunder Chickens' and the Osprey's deployment "Was there ever any doubt?"

Source: Military.com

Chuck Norris Becomes Honorary Marine

Last week, US Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway made legendary martial-arts ninja and action movie star Chuck Norris an “Honorary Marine” at the commandant’s residence in Washington, D.C.

In recent years, Norris’ popularity has surged with Marines. Leathernecks worldwide have been known to cite satirical Chuck Norris “facts” — unconfirmed and exaggerated declarations about the newest Honorary Marine along the lines of “There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.”

“The thing that is so engaging about Chuck Norris is that he’s so straightforward,” said Col. Frank McKenzie, military secretary for the Commandant said. “There’s no artifice about him. He represents a lot of values Marines value.He’s been very active in support of our wounded warriors.” Norris also recently took a trip to Iraq with Assistant Commandant Gen. Robert Magnus, which was considered one of the best-received visits to date, McKenzie said. “The Marines were ecstatic.”

"I suspect the Corps gave the Marine title to Chuck out of fear..." said Lt.Col. "Whopper" Creedon, an officer whom also has had many exaggerated facts written about him. "... fear of getting a roundhouse kick in the face."

James T. Conway becomes 34th Commandant

Lieutenant General James T. Conway, yesterday recieved his fourth star and in a chilly ceremony at the oldest post in the service, became General James T. Conway, 34th commandant of the Marine Corps.

Gen. Mike Hagee handed command to Conway, passing the Corps’ battle colors to his successor at the Marine barracks in Washington, D.C. “Throughout all the postings and assignments I have had, the one thing I am most proud of is that since 1968 I have been called a U.S. Marine,” said Gen. Hagee who is scheduled to retire in the coming months. His remarks focused not on his career but on the Marines now under Conway’s leadership, calling them “today’s guardians.”

“I can tell you morale is unbelievably high” because Marines know they are doing something very important for this country, Hagee said. In the last four years, the Corps “projected combat power over 400 miles from the sea to Afghanistan,” when doctrine said it could manage only half as many miles, he said. The Corps sent 70,000 Marines and sailors to Iraq in less than 60 days and performed worldwide humanitarian aid in response to earthquakes, mudslides and Hurricane Katrina.

Also attending was Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who said Hagee has “left behind a Marine Corps that under his watch has become the best-led and best-trained.” The SECDEF remarked that “The Marine Corps is fortunate that they have been led by a man with vision and courage and honor,” referring to Hagee. “And it is fortunate to have Conway stepping up.”

He also noted Hagee has led the Marine Corps during some of the organisation’s most challenging times, citing the Marines’ hard fighting in Fallujah, Ramadi and other parts of western Iraq. “Heroes are not in short supply,” Rumsfeld said of today’s Marines. “We can say with pride that many of this nation’s greatest young people are those who proudly wear the eagle, the globe and the anchor.”

Gen. Conway was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1970, where he held a variety of platoon and company commander billets. As a field grade officer, he taught tactics at The Basic School, served as operations officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to include contingency operations off Beirut, Lebanon, commanded Battalion Landing Team 3/2 during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and served as commanding officer of The Basic School.

As a general officer, Conway has served as the commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force during two combat tours in Iraq, the president of the Marine Corps University at Quantico, Va., and up to lat week, the Director of Operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

“The raw courage, the selflessness, the teamwork demonstrated by this young generation is absolutely unbelievable,” said Conway. “I would suggest that our services, our Corps and our nation are in great shape for a long time to come.”

Conway takes the helm as Marines continue to engage enemies on the frontlines of the Global War on Terrorism. “This is going to take awhile,” he said of ongoing operations in Iraq. “With your support there is only one outcome, and that is victory.”

Amen sir!

Sources: US Department of Defense, Marine Corps Times