WEBVTT

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You want me to pass and uh they can't

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hear you over there so that they're

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gonna they're gonna turn it up . Yeah ,

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he's gonna have to turn that up way up .

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Ladies and gentlemen , please take your

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seats and silence all electronic

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devices . The ceremony is about to

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begin .

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Now taking his position as today's

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commander of troops is Colonel Richard

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Wilkerson , Assistant Chief of Staff ,

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G1 , US Marine Corps Forces Europe and

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Africa .

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Pull it

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Ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of the

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co-host , commander of US Africa

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Command , General Michael E . Langley ,

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and Commander US European Command ,

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General Alex Grinkovich , welcomed

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today's change of command ceremony

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where Major General Robert B . Softchi

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will relinquish command to Major

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General Daniel L . Shipley . Today's

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ceremony is being executed by the

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Marines and sailors of US Marine Corps

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Forces Europe and Africa . The

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commander of troops for today's

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ceremony is Colonel Richard Wilkerson .

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The parade adjutant is First Lieutenant

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Edwin Sheed . Our special guests in

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attendance today representing the

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commandant of the Marine Corps ,

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Lieutenant General Roberta L . Shea ,

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and the commander , US Navy , Europe

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and Africa , Admiral Stuart Munch . We

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are honored to be joined by several

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distinguished guests Ambassador Peter

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Vruman , foreign political advisor

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AFRICO , Ambassador Kate Barns ,

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Foreign political advisor UCOM ,

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Lieutenant General John Brennan ,

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Deputy commander , AFRICO , Lieutenant

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General Robert Fulford , Deputy

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commander UCO . SES 3 Sandra Alser ,

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Associate Director Marshall Center .

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Major General Matthew Trollinger ,

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Chief of Staff , AFRO . Major General

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Lars Set . Chief of Norwegian Army

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Brigadier General Maura Hennigan ,

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Commanding General , 2nd Marine

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Logistics Group . Brigadier General

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Ionus Christau , 32nd Hellenic Brigade ,

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Brigadier General Ivo Morman ,

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Commanant , Netherlands Marine Corps .

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Colonel Edward Sanford , Garrison

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Commander , US Army Stuttgart .

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Sergeant Major Michael Woods , Command

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senior Enlisted Leader , AFRICO .

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Command Sergeant Major TJ Holland ,

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Command senior enlisted Leader UCO .

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Sergeant Major Rob Passat , Sergeant

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Major Netherlands Marine Corps .

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Sergeant Major David Watts , command

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senior enlisted leader , 2nd Marine

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Logistics Group , Command Master Chief

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Joseph Johnson , Command Master Chief ,

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2nd Marine Logistics Group , Command

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Sergeant Major Chris Melendez ,

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Garrison Command Sergeant Major US Army

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Stuttgart , to all our guests near and

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far , welcome and thank you for joining

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us for the ceremony . Ladies and

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gentlemen , please stand for the

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invocation delivered by Colonel Karen

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Meeker , Command chaplain , US Africa

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Command .

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Let us pray .

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Almighty God , great is thy

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faithfulness . Morning by morning , new

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mercies we see . Even this cool morning

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your provisions we receive . What is

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too hard for you , oh God , for you

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have seen these Marines from the Arctic

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Circle to the forests of the eastern

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front to the shores of Tripoli , from

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the gate of tears to the Mediterranean

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Sea . When you needed someone to fight

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tyranny , you called the Marines , and

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they have run to danger where others

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fear to tread as we stand upon Devil

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Dog Field with the scars of the battle

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won at Bellawood seared into the rings

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of the witness tree . Ever remind us ,

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oh God , our freedom paid in blood .

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Bless now the general who has led

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Marines and his dear wife who has cared

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for the community . Grant them your

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peace . Bless the new team with

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prudence and perseverance . Grant them

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your favor . As the colors pass from

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one to another , may they never falter

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nor fade . Now bless , protect and

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guard what we cherish most faith ,

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family , freedom . Amen .

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Be blessed devil dogs .

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Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated .

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Present day parades in the Marine Corps

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have their basis in both history and

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tradition . The mass formation of

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troops on one long line at close

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interval made possible the massing of

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firepower from muzzle-loaded muskets of

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the past . In those days , the line of

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battle was just that a line of two or

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three ranks and looked much like the

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parade formation you will see today .

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Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for

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the march on of the colors and remain

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standing for the playing of our

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national anthem . You are reminded that

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not in uniform . Please place your

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right hand over your heart .

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Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated .

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US Marine Corps Forces all present are

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accounted for .

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Ladies and gentlemen , General Langley ,

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General Grinkovich , Admiral Munch ,

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and Lieutenant General Shea have

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deferred honors to Major General

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Softjey . Ladies and gentlemen , please

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stand for honors to Major General

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Robert B . Sofchi , Commander , United

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States Marine Corps Forces Europe and

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Africa .

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Ladies and gentlemen , thank you .

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Please be seated . Now taking his

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position in the reviewing area is Major

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General Daniel L . Shipley .

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Sergeant Major . To us to the commander .

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Ladies and gentlemen , we now come to

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the ceremony's most solemn moment . The

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actual passing of command . The battle

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colors of a Marine Corps unit symbolize

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the authority and accountability of

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command . Transferring the colors

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during the ceremony symbolizes the

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relinquishing of command by Major

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General Softy , and by accepting the

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colors , Major General Shipley accepts

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command and confirms his total

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commitment to the Marines and sailors

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that he will command . Sergeant Major

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McGuinness is delivering the colors to

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the commander .

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From coming out of the Marine Corps to

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Major General Robert B . Softchi ,

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subject relinquishment of command .

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Effective 10003 July 2025 , you stand

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relieved from your duties as commander ,

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United States Marine Corps Forces

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Europe signed Eric M . Smith ,

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commandant of the Marine Corps .

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From Commanant of the Marine Corps to

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Major General Daniel L . Shipley .

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Subject assumption of command ,

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effective 10003 July 2025 , you were

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appointed as the commander , United

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States Marine Corps Forces Europe .

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Signed Eric M . Smith , commanant of

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the Marine Corps .

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From coming out of the Marine Corps to

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Major General Robert B . Softy subject

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relinquishment of command , effective

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10003 July 2025 , you stand relieved

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from your duties as commander , United

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States Marine Corps Forces Africa

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signed Eric M . Smith , commandant of

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the Marine Corps .

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From Commandant of the Marine Corps to

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Major General Daniel L . Shipley ,

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subject assumption of command ,

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effective 10003 July 2025 , you were

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appointed as the commander , United

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States Marine Corps Forces Africa

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signed Eric M . Smith , commandant of

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the Marine Corps .

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Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for

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honors to Major General Daniel L .

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Shipley , commander , United States

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Marine Corps Forces , Europe and Africa .

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Thank you . Please be seated .

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But

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Ladies and gentlemen , a letter from

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the commandant of the Marine Corps .

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Subject Marine Corps Forces Europe and

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Africa change of command for Major

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General Softy G man , congratulations

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on a job well done . The

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accomplishments of Marine Corps Forces

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Europe and Africa during your tenure

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are a direct reflection of your

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outstanding leadership . Under your

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Koran command . Marine Corps Forces

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Europe and Africa continues legacy of

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ensuring security and regional

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assistability . I greatly appreciate

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everything you did to enhance vital

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partnerships , especially the training

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you provided to the Ukrainian Marine

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Corps . In addition , your foresight

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and initiative to advance the Marine

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Corps' approach to competency , naval

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integration facilitated more cohesive

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formations throughout the Tri

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geographic combatant Command area .

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These highlights offer only to glimpse

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into what you have achieved over the

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last two years . Taken together with

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all of your other achievements , Marine

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Corps Forces Europe and Africa is

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better postured to rapidly respond to

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crisis and contingency across the

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region . The Marine Corps is grateful

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to you and Adrian for your leadership

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as well as everything you do for our

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Marines , sailors and their families .

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We wish you the very best as you

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prepare for retirement . From Major

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General Shipley , Knuckles , as you

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assume command of Marine Corps Forces

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Europe and Africa , know that you have

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my total trust and confidence . I know

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you will bring the same outstanding

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leadership to Marine Corps Forces

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Europe and Africa that you have

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demonstrated throughout your career .

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Congratulations and best wishes to you

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and Kimberly as you take responsibility

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for the daily operations of Marine

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Corps Forces Europe and Africa . Semper

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Fidelis , Eric M . Smith , General , US

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Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine

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Corps .

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Ladies and gentlemen , the commander ,

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US Africa Command , General Michael E .

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Langley .

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Commander troops . Call your

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formation to attention and put them at

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ease . That uh

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For Oh

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I

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Good morning everyone .

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You know , last time I did that down

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there in Vicenza , CAA .

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Change of command I explained it this

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way . We know what this

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joint force is responsible for covering

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down on two . Theaters of

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operation . Both across UCOM , NATO ,

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and On the continent of Africa .

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We need them well rested and ready .

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There's crisis Breaks out every day .

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So I took that I'm passing on here . I

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know Marines are always ready . But we

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always know that we're the first to be

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called . What a great day .

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As we honor the customs and courtesies

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of a transfer of responsibility .

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And stewardship of command .

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So it is a great day and a great week

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for the joint force . We got to welcome

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a new UCO commander on Tuesday .

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Good to see you here , Grinch . And

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congratulations again .

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Today we get to welcome a new teammate .

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Mas General Knuckles Shipley . At Mar4

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year after While farewelling

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A great friend . Major General

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Gan Soft .

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This all on the eve of Celebrating

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Our nation's independence 249th

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anniversary . I also want to make

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note .

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Naval teammate Stuart , good to see you

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here and thanks for making the track up

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from Naples . And all the lieutenant

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generals Fulford , Shea , and Bam bam ,

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Brennan . We're coming here today and

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all our chiefs of staffs .

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Trollinger and the rest to many the

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name but I know they're here . You know ,

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uh , especially for command senior

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enlisted leaders . Across the ranks .

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And other distinguished guests ,

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colleagues , and leaders , and friends

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and families . It's great to see all of

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you here at this special event . You

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know I often talk about being a joint

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commander . Not just being a

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marine . But anytime I any opportunity

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I get . I'd like to come back into the

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fold . So today I will get the focus .

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On our beloved Marine Corps . And that

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is always a good day . Sergeant the

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rest of the joint force , but sometimes

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when you come to devil dog feel . I

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feel at home . So this event is

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particularly special to me . As we bid

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farewell to my friend . And pass the

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colors to the next great Marine leader .

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I'm privileged to represent the men and

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women . of the United States Africa

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Command . And as Grench and Stu can

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attest to . It's our components and

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type commanders that conducted day to

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day campaigning activities and actually

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Just making things happen . It's never

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easy , especially reporting to 3 or 4

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different star commands because I used

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to hold the flag here . And it's really

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4 commands when you count the

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commandant . It reminds me and

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those of my generation and just just

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after . That great 1990s

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movie . Office space

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I mean , if you remember that time that

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protagonist uh Peter Gibbons , you know ,

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sitting in front of . To the young

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gentleman . And he said , you know ,

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it's a problem . It's a problem of

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motivation . All right .

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He said if I work my butt off at

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Indotech . Just a ship a few extra

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units . I don't see another dime . So

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where's the motivation ? Where's the

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motivation ? He said there's something

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else , Bob . I have 8 different bosses

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right now . That means when I make a

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mistake . I have 8 different people

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coming to tell me about it .

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You know I'm just working hard enough

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not to get fired at this point .

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Now that's in corporate America .

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But the commander of Markur you're a .

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relishes and the opportunity . To

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serve with the leadership across the

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joint force that extends from DC all

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the way out here to Europe and to all

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across the African continent because

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What previous commanders did and what

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Gan has just completed and knuckles

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what you're getting ready to embark

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upon . I know it's not a very

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enviable position to be in . But you

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relishing that opportunity .

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So where Peter Given says , where's the

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motivation ? It's different here in

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this joint force . That is the

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motivation , having that opportunity .

27:49.839 --> 27:53.560
Now Gan , I knew , I know you

27:53.560 --> 27:56.680
and Adrian . Had a challenging start .

27:57.449 --> 28:00.819
Much love to you , Adrian . Oh

28:01.780 --> 28:04.760
But you persevered and This unit is as

28:04.760 --> 28:07.329
strong as ever been as a result .

28:11.280 --> 28:13.390
You know , we started our friendship

28:13.390 --> 28:16.680
back in Than the time of efficiencies .

28:16.719 --> 28:20.160
I remember it well back in 2010 and .

28:21.260 --> 28:24.180
2011 I was at programs and resources in

28:24.180 --> 28:26.729
the Pentagon and Secretary Gates says ,

28:26.739 --> 28:29.359
hey , the department is going to Going

28:29.359 --> 28:31.581
to start an efficiency campaign kind of

28:31.581 --> 28:33.637
what we just are going through right

28:33.637 --> 28:37.550
now . And Langley , you are the

28:37.550 --> 28:39.550
official czar of the Marine Corps .

28:39.550 --> 28:42.829
Let's make some cuts . And I need an

28:42.829 --> 28:44.829
analyst . I needed someone that can

28:44.829 --> 28:46.829
take a strategic view of the Marine

28:46.829 --> 28:48.773
Corps . And we looked on the joint

28:48.773 --> 28:52.229
staff and we pulled Gan Softci from the

28:52.229 --> 28:53.229
joint staff .

28:56.459 --> 28:58.515
And he put things in perspective . I

28:58.515 --> 29:00.681
just have to tell the short story . He

29:00.681 --> 29:02.959
put things in perspective and , and he ,

29:02.959 --> 29:05.126
and he looked and he looked at what we

29:05.126 --> 29:05.069
call the fight of that's 5 years and

29:05.069 --> 29:07.236
what the Marine Corps is gonna buy and

29:07.236 --> 29:09.180
the new things that the commandant

29:09.180 --> 29:12.810
wanted at the time . And he said , hey ,

29:13.040 --> 29:15.479
you know what , Langley , you are

29:15.479 --> 29:18.079
program's evaluator and let's give you

29:18.079 --> 29:20.400
a little perspective . Here's our total

29:20.400 --> 29:22.289
obligated authority . This is the

29:22.289 --> 29:25.040
Marine Corps budget and only 6% is

29:25.040 --> 29:27.207
discretionary , so all the things that

29:27.207 --> 29:29.373
you're telling the combat we can buy .

29:31.390 --> 29:34.500
Remember that 6% a year discretionary .

29:35.619 --> 29:38.219
We're gonna buy what he wants today and

29:38.219 --> 29:41.180
we're going to reach that goal in 2060 .

29:45.290 --> 29:48.420
G G man Never backed off

29:49.150 --> 29:51.810
presenting reality to us all . But he

29:51.810 --> 29:53.643
wanted me to go tell that to the

29:53.643 --> 29:53.489
commandant .

29:58.329 --> 30:01.349
So I can't begin to account

30:01.910 --> 30:05.229
about Gan's achievements . Uh ,

30:06.209 --> 30:08.320
across this tenorship of command both

30:08.320 --> 30:12.089
UCO and ARCO . Because most of it

30:12.579 --> 30:13.489
was for UCon .

30:17.510 --> 30:20.869
No . On the surface it looks that way .

30:23.089 --> 30:25.689
So I will try to cover that , but uh

30:26.050 --> 30:28.161
the Grinch is going to cover the rest

30:28.161 --> 30:30.869
of it . But Ge man , I handed to you

30:30.869 --> 30:33.091
those colors two years ago and I talked

30:33.091 --> 30:35.147
about how challenging a problem that

30:35.147 --> 30:37.202
the problem set is in Africa . And I

30:37.202 --> 30:39.258
also told you to put the skills that

30:39.258 --> 30:41.369
you have sharpened over a long career

30:41.369 --> 30:43.480
to work . Some might not know in this

30:43.480 --> 30:47.280
audience that uh Not only is the man

30:47.280 --> 30:51.099
a great Harrier pilot . But you know ,

30:51.140 --> 30:54.099
I always talk about my 40 years and 40

30:54.300 --> 30:57.300
plus years and what G-Man did enlist in

30:57.300 --> 31:01.209
1982 . And we had some similarities

31:01.209 --> 31:04.050
back in that year because he was a

31:04.050 --> 31:07.390
sailor and he was uh . Probably the ,

31:07.400 --> 31:10.089
the Navy's best cobalt programmer while

31:10.089 --> 31:12.969
I was down in Texas , uh , and I was ,

31:13.010 --> 31:16.010
I thought I was uh on the campus of UTA

31:16.010 --> 31:17.677
the best Fortran programmer .

31:21.550 --> 31:24.030
Not knowing that years after that , we

31:24.030 --> 31:26.589
will be programmers in the in the

31:26.589 --> 31:30.010
Pentagon together . So that was an omen .

31:32.209 --> 31:35.829
Now our most seasoned attendees . In

31:35.829 --> 31:39.819
1982 . We

31:39.819 --> 31:42.041
don't know where they were , but I know

31:42.041 --> 31:44.569
that in that year when you were making

31:44.859 --> 31:47.260
your decisions to serve our great

31:47.260 --> 31:50.339
country . We know a lot of things were

31:51.530 --> 31:54.079
Evolving in American society .

31:55.020 --> 31:57.900
1982 brought us ET , the highest

31:57.900 --> 32:01.050
grossing film of the uh of the decade .

32:01.729 --> 32:04.910
And but more seriously , 1982 brought

32:04.910 --> 32:07.520
the Falklands War and Israel invaded

32:07.520 --> 32:10.160
Lebanon , and Marines were subsequently

32:10.160 --> 32:12.599
deployed to the overseas to see the

32:12.599 --> 32:15.280
withdrawal of Palestinian forces .

32:16.489 --> 32:19.699
So despite The pop culture explosion

32:19.699 --> 32:23.449
back in The US , gee man , you joined a

32:23.449 --> 32:26.439
time of extreme uncertainty . In a

32:26.439 --> 32:30.250
volatile conflict over the globe . And

32:30.250 --> 32:33.079
you stuck with it for over 42 years .

32:34.750 --> 32:37.479
You also brought a a relentless drive

32:37.479 --> 32:40.750
and lived our motto in the Marine Corps ,

32:41.040 --> 32:44.640
Semper fidelis , always faithful . Now

32:44.640 --> 32:47.479
I know I joked earlier about supporting

32:47.479 --> 32:51.420
UConn , but You're supporting you more

32:51.420 --> 32:53.540
than Apricom and some across the

32:53.540 --> 32:55.818
surface as we look down on it , but no ,

32:55.818 --> 32:58.199
we know . Every time I picked up the

32:58.199 --> 33:01.020
phone to call you G man . You answered

33:01.760 --> 33:03.871
Every time our staff needed something

33:03.871 --> 33:06.040
from from the Mar 4 , you answered .

33:06.699 --> 33:08.810
It's exactly what I would expect from

33:08.810 --> 33:12.280
the joint force . Of a most fierce Most

33:12.280 --> 33:15.079
lethal and most capable fighting

33:15.079 --> 33:17.260
element . The Marines .

33:18.829 --> 33:21.189
Mission accomplished . G man .

33:22.839 --> 33:26.219
I read early this morning about mission

33:26.219 --> 33:29.020
accomplished down there . In Djibouti .

33:31.170 --> 33:33.729
Well done . He did it as part of the

33:33.729 --> 33:34.729
joint force .

33:37.650 --> 33:39.790
G man , congratulations to you and .

33:42.020 --> 33:45.569
And family Because I know you have a

33:45.569 --> 33:47.513
lieutenant commander sitting right

33:47.530 --> 33:50.680
right down from you , so . You and

33:50.680 --> 33:53.109
Adrian are very proud . That you're

33:53.109 --> 33:55.680
passing on . The commitment and service

33:55.680 --> 33:59.349
to our country . So Adrian and Samantha .

34:00.319 --> 34:02.541
Thank you both for your service and I'm

34:02.541 --> 34:05.420
happy to get . The experience

34:06.420 --> 34:08.729
Being able to serve along with you .

34:10.639 --> 34:13.179
So now let's welcome our new commander .

34:14.299 --> 34:16.458
Major General Dan Knuckles Shipley .

34:19.100 --> 34:21.610
Kim and In Camden

34:23.959 --> 34:26.070
You know , I met I met Ken and Camden

34:26.070 --> 34:29.919
the other day . You know , I looked

34:29.919 --> 34:33.260
at I looked at Camden , and I , I just

34:33.260 --> 34:35.371
started process you guys know my love

34:35.371 --> 34:37.538
for football , and I said , you know ,

34:37.538 --> 34:39.928
Camden Shipley . I know the Stuttgart's

34:39.928 --> 34:42.039
football coach is wondering when he's

34:42.039 --> 34:44.206
gonna be able to embark upon , but the

34:44.206 --> 34:47.648
Pop Warner football . He is a future

34:47.648 --> 34:51.550
quarterback . So thank you

34:51.969 --> 34:53.913
and your family for coming here to

34:53.913 --> 34:56.520
Stutt guard to lead this fabulous force

34:56.520 --> 34:59.239
here , as you've shown over the years .

35:00.479 --> 35:04.260
From you being a BMI graduate . And I

35:04.260 --> 35:06.429
read your bio . I won't talk about you

35:06.429 --> 35:08.373
being a Green Bay Packer fan , but

35:08.373 --> 35:11.270
let's talk about other things . Yeah ,

35:11.479 --> 35:14.270
I know you're You're not a Harrier

35:14.270 --> 35:16.469
pilot , but you're an F-18 pilot top

35:16.469 --> 35:20.320
gun and . WTI and not

35:20.320 --> 35:22.320
others know that uh you're a former

35:22.320 --> 35:26.199
Blue Angel pilot . Now

35:28.229 --> 35:30.062
Separating yourself from being a

35:30.062 --> 35:33.620
fighter pilot . You're taking the helm

35:33.620 --> 35:36.979
of a great organization . I did note

35:36.979 --> 35:38.923
that one fun fact about you , your

35:38.923 --> 35:41.090
great grandfather was the president of

35:41.090 --> 35:44.250
Switzerland . Outstanding .

35:47.060 --> 35:50.239
But you know that knuckles . You're

35:50.239 --> 35:53.149
coming from in nopecom . We all know

35:53.149 --> 35:55.510
Edopecom always gets their way . They

35:55.510 --> 35:58.600
get all the handouts . Yeah , you gotta

35:58.600 --> 36:00.822
be ready to roll up your sleeves here .

36:02.439 --> 36:06.209
Especially on the AC . You know , as

36:07.209 --> 36:09.320
Prime Minister Churchill said , we're

36:09.320 --> 36:11.800
out of money now we got to think . So

36:11.800 --> 36:14.133
you do have to spread out the resources .

36:15.540 --> 36:18.439
So Dan , welcome on board as you start

36:18.439 --> 36:20.328
your tendership of , of command .

36:22.870 --> 36:26.250
And jokes aside . Command is the

36:26.250 --> 36:28.689
greatest privilege in the United States

36:28.689 --> 36:30.800
Marine Corps . We'll afford you as an

36:30.800 --> 36:33.570
officer . Don't take it lightly . Give

36:33.570 --> 36:35.737
your best each and every day , and for

36:35.737 --> 36:38.679
the Marines you see before you . You're

36:38.679 --> 36:41.629
the right officer for the job . And

36:41.629 --> 36:45.560
you're coming at the right time . Now

36:45.560 --> 36:47.782
this is the final Marine Corps ceremony

36:47.782 --> 36:50.169
I will preside over . And I want to

36:50.169 --> 36:52.280
thank everyone for the opportunity to

36:52.280 --> 36:54.502
speak here at this esteemed tradition .

36:54.629 --> 36:57.790
To Gan and Adrian , I wish you fair

36:57.790 --> 37:01.030
winds and following seas as you begin a

37:01.030 --> 37:04.489
new chapter in retirement . And to

37:04.969 --> 37:08.659
Dan and Kim . I extend a warm welcome

37:08.659 --> 37:12.479
aboard . To my fellow Marines , Semper

37:12.479 --> 37:16.189
fidelis . And thank you for having me

37:16.189 --> 37:17.189
here today .

37:36.850 --> 37:39.017
Ladies and gentlemen , the commander ,

37:39.017 --> 37:40.961
US European Command , General Alex

37:40.961 --> 37:41.961
Grinkovich .

37:51.080 --> 37:53.302
You know , I've always had a tremendous

37:53.302 --> 37:55.909
amount of respect for Mike Langley . It

37:55.909 --> 37:58.020
just went up a couple of notches when

37:58.020 --> 38:00.298
he worked in the office space , though .

38:00.298 --> 38:02.649
I tell you what . General Langley , uh ,

38:02.729 --> 38:04.840
flag and general officers , Sergeants

38:04.840 --> 38:07.062
Major , ladies and gentlemen , uh , let

38:07.062 --> 38:09.229
me add my welcome to today's change of

38:09.229 --> 38:11.396
command ceremony between Major General

38:11.396 --> 38:13.600
Robert Robert Softje and Major General

38:13.600 --> 38:16.199
Dan Shipley . I'd also like to

38:16.199 --> 38:18.088
recognize the leaders from allied

38:18.088 --> 38:19.977
nations who are here today . Your

38:19.977 --> 38:23.080
presence shows the true power of US

38:23.080 --> 38:25.360
UCOM's component commands , bringing

38:25.360 --> 38:27.082
the right people and the right

38:27.082 --> 38:29.416
capabilities together for a common goal .

38:30.909 --> 38:33.330
I also want to take a moment to thank

38:33.330 --> 38:35.219
the men and women of Marine Corps

38:35.219 --> 38:37.520
Forces Europe and Africa . I'm grateful

38:37.520 --> 38:39.780
for your dedication , your tireless

38:39.780 --> 38:42.260
effort . And your selfless service .

38:43.360 --> 38:45.360
And when it comes to delivering war

38:45.360 --> 38:47.469
fighting readiness and lethality , I

38:47.469 --> 38:49.525
agree with General Langley , you can

38:49.525 --> 38:52.969
always depend on the Marines . Today's

38:52.969 --> 38:55.136
ceremony not only marks the transition

38:55.136 --> 38:57.080
between two great leaders but also

38:57.080 --> 38:59.191
highlights the enduring importance of

38:59.191 --> 39:02.090
the Mar 4 UAF mission . When Major

39:02.090 --> 39:05.320
General Sofy assumed command in 2023 ,

39:05.689 --> 39:07.856
war was already raging on the European

39:07.856 --> 39:10.229
continent . UCO and our allies were

39:10.229 --> 39:12.629
reorienting to focus on deterrence and

39:12.629 --> 39:14.870
collective defense . And we had some

39:14.870 --> 39:17.203
big , big tasks to ensure we were ready .

39:17.909 --> 39:20.020
And G man , you are the right man for

39:20.020 --> 39:22.187
the job . Under your leadership , more

39:22.187 --> 39:24.510
for your af met the challenge . The

39:24.510 --> 39:26.732
command revitalized the US Marine Corps

39:26.732 --> 39:28.621
presence in the high north in the

39:28.621 --> 39:30.843
Baltic Sea . It was critical as Finland

39:30.843 --> 39:33.010
and Sweden joined NATO and we talked a

39:33.010 --> 39:35.232
little bit about that this morning with

39:35.232 --> 39:37.310
our Norwegian partners . You also

39:37.310 --> 39:39.366
expanded your ties with 2nd Fleet as

39:39.366 --> 39:41.709
JFC Norfolk grew towards full

39:41.709 --> 39:43.810
operational capability . And you

39:43.810 --> 39:45.866
reestablished relationships with the

39:45.866 --> 39:47.754
Ukrainian Marine Corps to provide

39:47.754 --> 39:49.810
invaluable training for forces going

39:49.810 --> 39:51.977
directly into combat . All of this was

39:51.977 --> 39:54.032
done while you were still supporting

39:54.032 --> 39:56.679
General Langley at AFRO . Your

39:56.679 --> 39:58.568
accomplished over the , uh , your

39:58.568 --> 40:00.623
accomplishments GA over the past two

40:00.623 --> 40:02.457
years are truly remarkable . You

40:02.457 --> 40:04.290
provided not only the vision and

40:04.290 --> 40:06.512
direction , but had the perseverance to

40:06.512 --> 40:08.735
see it through and make it happen . Now

40:08.735 --> 40:10.790
with over 40 years of service to our

40:10.790 --> 40:12.846
great nation , I wish you and Adrian

40:12.846 --> 40:15.250
the best of luck in retirement . As we

40:15.250 --> 40:17.472
bid farewell to General Softje , we get

40:17.472 --> 40:19.694
an opportunity to welcome Major General

40:19.694 --> 40:21.583
Shipley , Kim and Camden into the

40:21.583 --> 40:25.219
formation . And despite him being a

40:25.219 --> 40:27.620
proud member of the 2nd greatest aerial

40:27.620 --> 40:30.629
demonstration squadron in the world . I

40:30.629 --> 40:32.740
know he's the right man for the job .

40:33.159 --> 40:35.103
You're coming to us again from the

40:35.103 --> 40:37.215
opposite side of the globe at Mar4 PA

40:37.215 --> 40:39.270
where you got all the resources , as

40:39.270 --> 40:41.103
Mike mentioned , but your recent

40:41.103 --> 40:42.826
experience in Indoacom will be

40:42.826 --> 40:44.770
invaluable in this theater . We're

40:44.770 --> 40:46.770
seeing a convergence of threats all

40:46.770 --> 40:48.826
over the world , closer ties between

40:48.826 --> 40:50.937
those who wish us harm . The security

40:50.937 --> 40:52.826
landscape is not getting any less

40:52.826 --> 40:55.090
dangerous , and we must maintain a

40:55.090 --> 40:56.923
global outlook to understand the

40:56.923 --> 40:59.090
challenges that we'll be facing next .

40:59.729 --> 41:01.951
Knuckles , you are the right officer to

41:01.951 --> 41:04.118
lead these men and women through these

41:04.118 --> 41:06.340
challenges , to care for their families

41:06.340 --> 41:08.173
and to execute our nation's most

41:08.173 --> 41:10.340
difficult missions . You have my uh my

41:10.340 --> 41:12.439
full trust and confidence , as does

41:12.439 --> 41:15.649
every marine in Mar4 YA . Thank you .

41:37.040 --> 41:38.984
Ladies and gentlemen , Commander ,

41:38.984 --> 41:41.096
United States Naval Forces Europe and

41:41.096 --> 41:43.096
Africa , Admiral Stuart B . Munch .

41:52.629 --> 41:54.979
Well , good morning to the SoftG family .