So I got stuck having to be the chaperone for the Commandant’s visit to Camp Pendleton today.  Not a big deal really just had to be on the grinder at 1230 and ensure that the Marines got on the bus.  Well at 1115 I got a phone call and told the time had moved up to 1130.  An inconvienance sure but nothing I couldn’t handle.  The Marines showed up and we got to the where the General was oign to be at about 1245.

We hung out in the area that the Commandant was coming to for about 30-45 minutes and then got in formation.  Not a fun time but something that isn’t unexpected when the Commandant is coming.  It was apx 1330 when we started forming up so I figure 1345-1400 we would be greeted by General Conway and SgtMaj Kent.

Well the time keeps ticking away and still nothing, it is now 1420 (maybe they got delayed).  About 10 minutes later another unit shows up and gets in to formation.  Well now I am really getting pissed because our leadership got us to the area 2 hours early (mind you its only a 15 minute ride).  They have had me and the other Marines in formation for an hour and obviously we have more time to wait until the Commandant and the SgtMaj show up.

So finally at about 1500 we get the word to stand-by seems that they have finally arrived (bout damn time). Well we go through the formalities of falling in and the Colonel introducing the two men that all Marines know.  General Conway has us all get out of formation and bring it in tight ad have a seat (FINALLY MY KNEE IS KILLING ME).  General Conway speaks for about 5 minutes and then passes the mic to SgtMaj Kent.  Both men express their thanks to all in attendance and let us know that we are doing great things both here and in Iraq and Afghanistan.

General Conway confirms something that I have felt for awhile and has been going around and that is that things are starting to come to a close in Iraq and Marines are going to be spending less time there and more time in the ‘Stan.  After our leaders spoke for a bit they opened up the floor to questions.

Most of the questions were pretty mundane and have been heard many times over and I basically ignored them.  One that I remember was “will the females be required to do pull-ups for the PFT?”  SgtMaj Kent took way to long to tell her NO.

The other question that I remember was actually a pretty damn good question from a young warrior and he basically asked both what the best piece of advice or experience the General or SgtMaj recieved while in the Marine Corps.  SgtMaj answered first and told everyone to remember that nobody is perfect and that we have to work together to get the job done.

General Conway talked about the first rifle platoon that he ever took command of and that he spoke to only the plt sgt and then to the entire platoon and realized that it was a mistake.  In his next command he spoke to all NCOs and it was much better.  It was then that he realized how strong and powerful the NCO ranks are within the Marine Corps.  It is why even today as the senior man in the Marine Corps he has such respect and admiration with the NCOs.

It is always good to hear the Commandant and the SgtMaj speak on the status of the Marine Corps and what is going on and all that good stuff.  While I am displeased with the way that my leadership ran the way we got to our destination it was still a good experience overall.

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