 Markership Training Company, all present, in account four. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the commanding general of Training Command, Major General Julian D. Alford, we would like to welcome you to today's Change Command ceremony, where Colonel Mark R. Liston will relinquish command to Colonel Gregory L. Jones. Please rise for the invocation given by Lieutenant Commanders Stephen Griffin and remain standing for the playing of honors to Major General Alford. My heavenly father, we thank you for this opportunity to come together here at the Weapons Training Battalion to celebrate the successful command tour of Colonel Mark Liston. We thank you for the constant support of his loving wife, Jennifer. And today, we also honor the sacrifices that they have made together as a family. May you richly bless them as they transition into their new assignment. Lord, we also pray today for Colonel Gregory Jones and his wife, Nicole. And as he assumes command, we ask that you grant him strength and wisdom for the great work set before him. Finally, Lord, we ask that you bless each one of us here today as we continue to place our faith and our trust in you. We ask all of this in your holy name. Amen. Taking his position in the reviewing area is Major General Julian D. Alford, commanding general of Training Command. Taking his position in the reviewing area is Colonel Mark R. Liston, battalion commander, weapons training battalion. Taking his position in the reviewing area is Colonel Gregory L. Jones. Ladies and gentlemen, we now come to the ceremony's most solid moment, the actual passing of command, the battle colors from Marine Corps units symbolize authority and accountability of command. Transferring the colors during the ceremony symbolizes the relinquishing of command by Colonel Liston. And by accepting the colors, Colonel Jones accepts commands and confirms his total commitment to the Marines and sailors that he will command. Sergeant Major Borders is delivering the colors to the commanding officer. Two, Colonel Mark R. Liston effective 28 July 2022. You will stand attached from your duties as commanding officer, weapons training battalion, and resume your duties with G3 Training Command, signed by David H. Berger, general United States Marine Corps, commanding out of the Marine Corps. Two, Colonel Gregory L. Jones, effective 28 July 2022. You are directed to assume your duties as commanding officer, weapons training battalion, signed by David H. Berger, general United States Marine Corps, Commanding out of the Marine Corps. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the National Anthem. It's a state's pleasure presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Mark R. Liston, United States Marine Corps, for service as set forth in the following citation. For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, commanding officer, weapons training battalion training command from July 2020 to July 2022. As a service level proponent for Marsmanship, Colonel Liston was recognized authority on Marsmanship Instruction, Doctrine, and the Competition and Arms Program in support of the services, plans, and initiatives. He successfully convened and chaired two combat Marsmanship symposiums, which brought together senior leaders and action officers from across the Marine Corps to address critical and emerging issues facing the combat Marsmanship Program. Through these venues, Colonel Liston led the refinement and implementation of the annual rifle reconification, which has remained largely unchanged since 1907, to increase institutional and individual shooter quality, providing leadership to fire regionally-aligned commands spread throughout Virginia and Maryland. Colonel Liston definitely navigated the complexity, scope, and diversity of these commands and led them towards increased effectiveness and modernization. Colonel Liston also hosted numerous executive level visits by representatives, senators, flat and general officers and civilian executors to forge relationships across government and industry to support the future needs of service level Marsmanship. Colonel Liston's dynamic direction, initiative, and loyal dedication to duty reflected great on hand and work keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service, signed for the president, D.H. Berger, command on the Marine Corps. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, Major General Julian D. Alford, commanding general, training command. Good day, but it is getting hot out there in the sun real quick. So we're gonna make it fast. Just got a few people to recognize. We've got General Sullivan, who'll be taking over training command as the CG of this outfit in just a few hours, 1,600 a day. And we've got our Second Marine Division CG up here. Frank's great to see you, and he's P&O. So two infantry advocates, part of this is what I'll talk about, what this outfit does is sitting here today with General for National, P&O. So thanks for being here. All the job, and nobody even paid. That's very too small a portion of the Marines. It's true about this place. Weapons, training battalions, one of those commands that nobody pays attention to until we get serious about killing our enemy. And for the past two years, he's put in place, like you heard in this award, he's changed the way that we re-qualify our Marines, every Marine to rifleman, the past few years, with the annual re-qualification award. I tell you what, if you haven't shot it yet, it's gonna change that little badge you wear on your dress uniform, because it's hard. Because killing the enemy is hard. And we put that in place, and now, and I love you for it, for what you did. Also, for us, infantrymen, we put together our advanced market training program. And we got that implemented, both down at our infantry level, infantry school, and for our infantry officer course. Another infantryman is the replacement. The most important thing we do, even though we're talking about rockets and missiles and all the different things, is a Marine with a rifle, what this place does. It's in charge of that for the Corps. There's a few things that we gotta pay attention to to make sure our Corps stays what it is. And that's recruiting, that's our boot camps, and OCS, we got OCS there, and a Marine with a rifle. Don't ever forget those three or four things. And that last one, I would argue, probably is the most important. Mark is going over to be the officer for General Sullivan. Extremely important job. 17 Colonel commands, or O6 commands. 15 Colonel's and Super Navy Captain's commands. The largest command in Marine Corps. And the three of our outfits is extremely important. There was about six different generals that were trying to get you. And I'm tougher than all of them. That's why you're coming from where you come from. You continue to do what you've got, so thank you. Greg and Nicky, welcome. I was on your board. I had your package. I made sure, or else that guy right there, General Finas, would have kicked my butt if he did. Get command. You deserve it. I've been watching you for a long, long time. You don't deserve no command. Yep. You're a lot of bad guys. So, congratulations. I couldn't be happier, particularly, with these Marines standing here behind you. You're the right Marine to take this. And thank you. Thank you so much. All right. It's hot out here with the Marines standing behind you. We're in the shape. So, great day. And I'll get off the stage and let Mark get up here and say a few words. Thank you. There's no way I can do this. Thanks again to General Alford, General Sullivan, General Finas, General Donovan. Thank you very much for coming out. Showed your support to the program in Weapons Training Battalion overall. So, thrilled to have you out here. And then also, a lot of fellow Colonel Commanders, just the time to come out here as well. So, all my comrades in the training command, thank you. I know this is the busy season for everything. We've got Colonel Brooks out here, great supporter of Weapons Training Battalion from the base as well. And then we've got guys came down from 8th and I, up from 2nd Marines. I don't know who has a rougher commute on there, but definitely appreciate what you've done. And then some of these 8th Commanders outside of Weapons Training Command, we've got Kelly Breschauer here, a great neighbor here, up up at McKenna. I'd also like to welcome up from Training Command, Mr. Connor and Tim, you didn't sit in your spot there, but Mr. Hale, you got a good spot. Thanks, thanks for representing the three. And I'm looking forward to take a part in that in the near future. I was going to just recap a bit of the two years, General really did that, like he said, it's hot and we got the Marines out here. Plus, I'm no longer a CEO, so I'm very conscious that nobody cares. So I'm gonna take care of it. So, you know, with the Marchmanship, we were really able to do that. Big thing is that was my, really my predisposition. And all that, all those packs were set up really at the two, three yard line, ready to rush it in. So you're taking over a high functioning unit with programs in place. All we did was really do our tremendous gunners that we have here. Costin and Clinton, we really just unlocked and unleashed those guys. And I think you, you know, great testament to what they've done after we get our first year review with active forces. There were no proposed changes there. That says a lot about a good team as far as their preparation and how they had it set up and how they've rolled it out. So, it's great to be a part of that. And then also when I got here, right after forces 9.23 rolled out and expeditionary advanced based operations. And then that proved to us that we can't stand still and be satisfied with where we were. So with the originally aligned demands of that company, the information strategy of that Fort Mead and then down at Fort Lee or logistic schools, those teams just realized that we've got to change the way we mantrain and equip for logistics to be able to do that in a distributed environment. And then for the CompStat folks, realized that we need to do better to be able to compete in the battle in the area. And I think at least on par with the market ship is it the Fort Mead 9.23 changes that you all made as originally aligned commands. So a great work, it was great being a part of that. Really, that's what the Marine Corps needs. And the Commandant said time and time again, he doesn't want to move out and he doesn't want to tell you what to do. That being said, those great accomplishments, just some people I'd like to thank for that hard nap. Obviously, the Marine sailors and civilians, I've talked to you before, did a great job but we asked a lot out of you and we got a lot out of you. So I know you'll continue that, but from me, thank you very much as far as that goes. And then try to get around the sky and put some friends out here. We've got Kristy, Joe Lindy. We were out here meeting to the basic school, literally Kristy. And I don't like saying it, but she mopped the floor with me on that one. They're good. So very much appreciate the friendship. Thank you. The white love front, so Jen, you've come his first time here. Thank you for what you do. And then you've got a strong will which works for me most of the time. But it's kind of like the analogy of the bug in the windshield. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes I got to go to my sergeant major for some relationship counseling. But thank you for everything you do. And I'd like to thank our students as well. So we've got a great student, Conrad, here that really punches above their weight and adds the continuity of the team. So for Mr. Elmer's books with the academic section, does a great job. Rogers, you keep charging. Your scout snipers try to beat up Miss Sandra. You throw her right back in the flight and keep her attacking. Great work on that and keep that up, folks. Much appreciated. And then the PWSC, we've got the sergeant monitor over here just fantastic, a fantastic utilization of civilians that are former Marines with terrific skill sets that continue to give those out to this state of these individuals. And then we've got within our opposite section as well. I've got Bob back here. I don't know if he's around right now but basically he's a, there you are, Bob. But basically he's a master guns ops chief with a wicket cool beard. So appreciate how that team adds to us. And then finally, I want to thank the small leadership team. Obviously I've talked to all three of you who want to thank the small leadership team that we have as far as the XOs. So I was very fortunate here to have two great XOs, good XOs allow you to be a commanding officer. And so we had Matt Bronson here initially for the first year. Him and I, I was regimental ops though. He was Italian ops though. Great work relationship. And like Chris now, he's just a great, we got there sweating right now. Chris Rogers getting most of it. But both of those individuals really did a great job of keeping the staff on track, getting the most out of people. But they did an environment that wasn't painful or it wasn't a drag. So definitely in charge, making things happen but very, very pleasant as well. And the last person I want to thank part of that team is Sergeant Major Gordon. So I got here about two months prior to him. So I got two degrees for his awareness of what's going on, being the good leader that I am. Take him in, sit down. We talk about the billet description. Yeah, this is what I think you need to do. I don't want a yes man, your perspective should be different than mine. If we're thinking the same, the Marine Corps is wasting some pay and somebody needs to get out of the way. So that's where we started off. Now we're best friends and we greet on everything. So that's a way to go leadership wise this and I guess. But we really appreciate what you've added to the team. And then as far as agreeing on everything, one thing I'll end with was, coming to the end of my tenure here, I got a great idea about three weeks ago for some leadership changes. So I've got to take people moving around that way, utilize their skill sets, but keep them engaged. Supporting establishment. I want to move people around, keep them engaged. So I came out with a fantastic idea for that. What I thought, we pulled the two of them together. It was like, hey, this is what I want to do. This is why this person should move here. This person should move here. Do that, we'll do it. And before the changes come in, that'll keep everything working. So I gave him that night. I'm like, don't agree, it's such a good idea. Don't agree with me now. Come back tomorrow, we'll talk about it zero nine. So I thought about it. I opposed to this, it was a great idea. Went for a long run down to TBS around FBI. And I'm thinking, yep, I'm attacking my plan. And I'm like, this is good. These guys need to change. That's good. And then I start falling in love with it as well. Being like, these guys were lucky to have me. We should burn out at the end of it. You know, all my organizational leadership, experience, education, you know, they're gonna love it. I just got to put a lid on their enthusiasm when I asked them what they think. Zero nine comes down, I'm like, okay, fellas, what do you think? Both of them slap a belt on a feed tray. Feed tray cover comes down. Shredded my plan as well. We didn't agree on everything, sorry mate. We can put that down. XO, good idea. I still think it's a good idea to keep it on the shelf for this time. So that's it. Again, people are literally scraping my name off the sides here now, so I'm gonna change over. But Greg, we're, you know, like I said, I think we built stuff up to a good level. Not perfect from what you saw. And you'll just continue to move the ball down the field but really thrilled to have you here. And then looking forward to at the G3, being able to continue to work it in and champion your success. I wish you all the best. Hey everybody, thanks for coming again. I know my job is a new guy. It's gonna be great to be on, but I do have to say thanks to some people. Obviously, you know, with new private QC, right away from recruit training, new admissions, kind of the OCS, or a colonel that's been in command for, I think about 15 minutes. You didn't get here by yourself. So it's time to thank you for some clothes. I'm gonna break precedence a little bit and thank my wife and family. And then Mark first, and I'm only doing that out of self-preservation because I haven't forgotten to do that before. I forgot to thank Dave Wallace when we changed over at ITV and then all of a sudden he's in charge of me from a little house. I'm from Maryland and you know, I have to get things right. So first off, Nicky, love you about 25 years. You keep the Jones boys running. The two, my two older ones, the channel 12 we were talking about this last night, they're not here. My oldest son just graduated from college taking a job at a different uniform. Police officer, St. Lawrence, Maryland. We're proud of him and that the two brothers are moving him tomorrow. So we got the little one here. The Jones boys running that one. It was like six, eight, the new four that we were running was pretty tough. So I put a lot of drugs to each other. Two bottle rockets to each other now. Now she's got to be here because I can't defend her anymore. Thank you very much. I'm a street in there. I'm a mom and dad. Thanks for being here. My dad realized last night that like this is where it started for me as an officer. So he certainly decided to be back. I'm going to mark the day before not to say as much as I'm going to work. I just want to highlight, we've talked about, John, we're talking about this, I think the best credit given really to AMTP and to the comments of our peer. When I found out that I was coming up here, CO Secondary's, Steve Asudis here, his gunner, CO6 when he was getting his gunner. Dave Emels here, talked to Dave a lot, gave him a lot of access and he was one side facing the other. To see this and to come up here with his gunner who is my gunner, that could be a great move up there. He's doing what more of a team did and he can figure out how to do more. So that's really, I think you said it Mark, that's my job. And General Alford mentioned that's my job to figure out how to do more. So thanks. General Alford, sir, again, got a better image than you first time. Two thousand years ago, we actually combined these two stories. He did teach me how to open an up armor Humvee. I didn't see one before. Talk about that later. Thank you for the issue that I got here. I understand your intent and there will be no change. And I'm going to give myself a general consultant, obviously I'll make it to the main street. So see you again. Yeah, we're going to take it for the main street. Joe Salmon, sir. Obviously I was not consulted and it was going to take over for General Alford. But if I was asked, I would have said to you. No years ago, I didn't know if I'd work for you again. So I hope I did that. Hope I did okay. But back on the team, before I get down to General Alford, just awesome, awesome, second more difference for, I mean, this is past, previous, I was kidding, Joe, not the only thing I'm not going to thank the second more different team for bringing the community up here. I'm pretty brutal this morning for the brains, but just awesome, awesome support. General Burnett, sir, again, big deal. There's a general for this team of Italian that does have you up here. You and General Sullivan, we'll put you on the path to get here. Wouldn't have been General Almond's chief staff without you guys giving me a shot the heck worth the time. So thanks. Thanks a bunch for that. Thanks a lot. General Almond, sir. You've talked a lot. Lots of things. I'll call you anywhere. Just let me know. I'm going to check on my wife first. She says, yes, I'll be in there. Let me see. We have some people who just went on this. Anybody? I go through some, just great, great crew, Colonel, and the division of the ADC. He reminds me packing order. Generals, then him. So I got to make sure he follows in that order before the regimen operator for the team work. So just great group of mentors and peers, Mark Mitchell, a partner in crime. He's already researched his stuff. Me, vice versa. So we can continue this scheme. Stephen, do you mention before, I think it's really the regimen, really? I mean, that Marine went to train in the time, and all the programs Italian offered and the secondary really worked on and exploited. Thank you for continuing to do the other regimen. Thank you so much. Really all the second more dip team, we got a couple of generations of folks since our major personatic, Brett Taylor here. Thanks for the time today. Again, thanks. Thanks so much. Again, commanders, and the R&D, and the SCO, Rob, thank you so much. Thank you so much. I'm glad to be back. I know you're on the street in there. I forgot any questions. So thank you there. Again, Marine family, the Butler, the Hain, it's known you guys forever. Thanks for continuing to work. Folks probably heard my kids around with my wife and I. But again, thanks for having me. I do this and we certainly appreciate that. And then finally, a lot of Task Force Southwest folks here as well, Essay Waller, Jeff today, and the team you guys are showing up as well. And then, it's great to work with you again. Great job today. And look for the Marine for the time. Again, all the awards, through those that they probably got, he certainly deserves, but not done without you all. So I'm really looking forward to continuing doing the things that General Alford talked about. And you guys are frozen. Let's get that out of the way. We'll figure that out already. We'll continue to take it to the next level. Thanks. And finally, the recovery commanders, I'll get out there and figure out what that is. You guys gotta tell me what you need from me. But I appreciate it. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the play of Anchors Wave Marine 10.