June 26, 2015 --
Col. Andrew Milburn relinquished command of Marine Raider Regiment, U.S.
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, to Col. Peter
Huntley during a change of
command ceremony at the MARSOC headquarters at Stone Bay, aboard Marine Corps
Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 26, 2015.
Marines, sailors, family and
friends were in attendance to wintess the change of command. A change of
command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority
and responsibility of a unit from the outgoing commanding officer to the
incoming officer. The passing of the colors signifies the official change of
duties being placed into the hands of the next commanding officer.
Prior to the ceremony Col.
Milburn had the opportunity to reflect on his time as the Marine Raider
Regiment commander.
"When they say special operations, they aren't kidding.
These Marines can do things across the spectrum of operations and training,
that very few other people can,” said Milburn. “They challenge themselves every
day; and it compels you as a leader to do the same. I feel very privileged to have been
part of such an extraordinary unit, during a very formative period of the
unit's history."
The Raider Regiment consists of a headquarters company and
three Marine Raider Battalions (1st, 2d, 3d). The Regiment’s mission is to
train, sustain, maintain combat readiness, and deploy task-organized and
scalable expeditionary Marine Special Operation Forces worldwide to accomplish
the full range of special operations missions assigned to MARSOC.
Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman Commander MARSOC, spoke briefly
during the ceremony about Milburn and his time as a commander.
“Through his leadership (the regiment) was able to
regionalize around the world,” said Osterman. “He has been faced with some
difficult tasks (including) the loss of seven of his Marines. He was personally
involved with each and every one of those families ensuring they had everything
they needed.”
Under Milburn’s command
the regiment completed its mission in Afghanistan, and regionally aligned to
support Special Operations Command (SOC) Pacific, SOC Central and SOC Africa,
providing persistently deployed Marines Special Operations Companies, to their
respective Theater Special Operations Command. The regiment also had oversight
as the last Marine Special Operations Company deployed and successfully turned
in 13 years' worth of equipment and transitioned facilities back to Afghan
control, as well as developed and implemented streamlined training practices to
gain efficiencies across the entirety of the MRR.
“I had the opportunity to personally
witness and observe Huntley in combat and his strong leadership and his ability
to make hard things happen,” said Osterman.
In closing, Huntley spoke briefly about the opportunity to
lead the regiment.
“I am proud and honored to lead, what I consider to be one of
the finest Marine Corps regiments in the Corps,” said Huntley.