Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, chosen nearly 11 months in the past to take over the Marines’ largest warfighting unit, lastly took the helm at California’s Camp Pendleton, calling the I Marine Expeditionary Pressure “America’s hammer.”
“We come to struggle, and we come to win,” Cederholm stated in the course of the long-delayed change of command ceremony held Friday, Feb. 16. “I’m excited to get after it and get into the assault.”
Cederhom, who beforehand served on the Pentagon because the Marine Corps’ deputy commandant for aviation, is taking up the command of the almost 44,000 Marines and sailors from Lt. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, who had assumed the duties in August when a stall within the Senate affirmation course of for normal officers saved Cederholm from taking his job.
Cederhom had been nominated for the submit by President Joe Biden in March. Not less than 300 senior navy officers inside the Division of Protection had been impacted by the delay, with some solely now taking their new jobs at bases throughout the nation and past.
Earlier than main the I Marine Expeditionary Pressure, Gering led the third Marine Plane Wing at Miramar, one of many drive’s 11 subordinate items. The posting in August to Camp Pendleton delayed his promotion to lieutenant normal and his orders to take over as deputy commandant of aviation.
Friday’s ceremony included a second of silence for 5 Marines – often known as the Flying Tigers from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361– who had been killed when their CH-53 Tremendous Stallion crashed on Feb. 6 in Japanese San Diego County.
Senior navy leaders on the ceremony included Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. There have been additionally metropolis officers from cities bordering the bottom and representatives from help teams in Southern California which have adopted battalions inside the I Marine Expeditionary Pressure.
San Clemente Mayor Victor Cabral sat beside Del Toro in the course of the ceremony; he stated it was important to be there, significantly within the wake of the assault of three off-duty Marines by a gaggle of about 20 native teenagers within the metropolis’s Pier Bowl final summer time. It was caught on video and made the rounds on social media.
“Now we have an wonderful relationship with the Marines and have for many years,” Cabral stated. “After what occurred, perhaps it soured it a bit. It was essential to be there and present how they’re essential to us.”
Throughout his transient command, Gering continued with innovation and elevated cooperation with the Navy’s Third Fleet by persevering with the drive’s presence within the Indo-Pacific, Del Toro stated.
“I’m crammed with pleasure understanding that IMEF is a agency pillar of our Marine Corps and, certainly, our nationwide protection,” Del Toro stated, including that the world is dealing with an increasing number of instability from international locations comparable to China and Russia, which stay energetic threats.
“There are 30,000 Marines and sailors deployed globally as we proceed to face threats within the Center East and the Pacific,” Del Toro stated. “This isn’t commonplace; that is actual particular. And the American individuals merely can’t neglect that.”
He spoke in regards to the significance of modernization and know-how in fight and the way that gives the USA “with an edge in fight.”
Underneath Gering’s management, Marines accomplished a deployment to Australia, the place they educated alongside the Australian Protection Pressure in 11 totally different workout routines. One other group educated within the second iteration of the Marine Rotational Pressure in Southeast Asia, the place they labored with numerous worldwide forces to make sure “safety cooperation.”
Additionally within the final a number of months with Gering, the fifteenth Marine Expeditionary Unit educated with the Navy’s Boxer Amphibious Prepared Group and is getting ready to deploy.
Mahoney, who’s the Marines’ appearing commandant whereas Gen. Eric Smith, who earlier this 12 months was appointed commandant however is recovering from a coronary heart assault, was beforehand additionally the commanding normal for the third Marine Plane Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. He additionally remarked in regards to the 7-month delay in Cederholm taking his function, however spoke to the Corps’ resiliency.
“We stay by the maxim, ‘Subsequent Marine up,’ and Gering was the subsequent Marine up,” he stated.
Mahoney stated he seemed ahead to what Cederholm would accomplish as commanding normal of the I Marine Expeditionary Pressure.
“Your strategic imaginative and prescient, your operational acumen and your truck-stop knowledge has turn out to be legendary,” Mahoney stated. “I do know you’ll proceed to push ahead.”
Cederholm, 58, is an aviator by coaching and was the 2nd Marine Plane Wing commander earlier than heading to the Pentagon in 2022. The son of a Marine helicopter pilot, he and his spouse have 5 kids.
“I’m honored to serve you and can 24/7, 12 months a 12 months,” Cederholm advised the items gathered Friday on the parade area representing the I Marine Expeditionary Pressure. “I stand in awe of the sacrifice you make and can make. I really look ahead to writing the subsequent chapter. I MEF is America’s hammer. Love you guys.”
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