New Sergeant Major

Hawaii Marine 3/3 Live Fire Volume 28, Number 18 May 6, 1999 Swamp Romp A-4 B-1 Team K-Bay posts new sergeant major Cpl. David Salazar "But now, he is leaving us to serve else- "The picture, to me, is very clear," Combat Correspondent where in the Marine Corps." Mellinger said. "I'm here to provide sup- Marine Corps Base Hawaii received a As Coffee leaves the installation to port to the operations on this base and to the new sergeant major during a post and relief assume duties as 1st Marine Division quality of life of everyone who lives (here) ceremony aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe sergeant major at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and calls this beautiful peninsula home." Bay, Friday. he said he's leaving the base in good hands. Mellinger enlisted in the Corps in 1972, Sergeant Major Royce G.'Coffee relin- "I've worked very closely with Sgt. and has served throughout the world. His quished his post as base sergeant major to Maj. Mellinger over the past three years, assignments include duty in Beirut, Sgt. Maj. Stephen H. Mellinger, former 3rd and I couldn't think of a better sergeant Lebanon, Southwest Asia and the Republic Marine Regiment sergeant major, at major I'd want to lead MCB Hawaii," of Panama. Dewey Square. Coffee said as he addressed ceremony Coffee came to MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe "This is a happy occasion, but it is a bit attendees. Bay in 1996, when he assumed duties as Photo by Cpl. David Salazar sad for me because I've developed a rather Mellinger, a Bastrop, La., native, who Aviation Support Element, 1st Marine Incoming base sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Stephen H. Mellinger, right, close working relationship with Sgt. Maj. was relieved as the 3rd Marines sergeant Aircraft Wing sergeant major. He assumed salutes Brig. Gen Arnold Fields, the MCB Hawaii commanding general, and Mrs. Coffee," said Brig. Gen. Arnold. major April 9, said he will try his best to duties as the MCB Hawaii sergeant major after relieving Sgt. Maj. Royce G. Coffee, center, during a post and relief Fields, MCB Hawaii commanding general. live up to Coffee's expectations. in 1997. ceremony at Kaneohe Bay's Dewey Square Friday. President nominates next CMC News Release Division of Public Affairs HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARLNE CORPS, WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen announced April 21 that President Clinton has nominated Lt. Gen. James L. Jones for appointment to the grade of general and assignment as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. The nomination must be approved by the Senate. A change of command ceremony is scheduled for June 30. Lieutenant Gen. Jones has been serv- ing as the military assistant to the Secretary of Defense since January 1997. He was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in 1967, and his first duty assignment was to the Republic of Vietnam. Lieutenant Gen. Jones returned to the Photo by Cpl. Barry Mellon United States in 1968, and was assigned to HERE TO STAY Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he served'as Sailors from Patrol Squadron 9, the First P-3C aircraft squadron to arrive at Kaneohe Bay from Naval Air Station Barbers Point, touch down in one of their P-3C a company commander until he was Orion planes at the K-Bay flightline Friday. The squadron is one of several squadrons transfering to K-Bay as a result of the NAS Barbers Point closure. assigned to serve at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., as a company commander. As a captain, he attended the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, May designated for alcohol abuse awareness Va.. From 1976 until 1985, Lt. Gen. Jones Staff Sgt. Luis P. Valdespine Jr. In educating MCB Hawaii residents, the base The commandant of the Marine Corps also sent a served in various billets in the Washington, Press Chief SACC has a goal of reducing alcohol incidents by Marine Administrative message (162/99), in which he D.C. area, including in the Officer The MCB Hawaii Substance Abuse Counseling half, O'Guin said. But this goal is not one the SACC stated, "As a Corps, we need to change the social Assignments Section, as the Marine Corps Center is out to educate servicemembers and base res- plans to merely work on during May. norm that associates heavy drinking with good times." liaison officer to the Senate and as a student idents this month, as part of National Alcohol Abuse Units usually hold preventive alcohol abuse train- In the message, the commandant also said com- of the National War College. Awareness Month. ing quarterly, or even annually, but the base can begin manders should emphasize that Marines are responsi- He returned to Camp Pendleton to serve The MCB Hawaii SACC, along with unit substance to expect to see more proactive training, O'Guin said. ble for their actions and should adopt a mature and as a battalion commander from 1985-1987. abuse counseling officers, plan to take advantage of And while O'Guin said MCB Hawaii has recently common sense approach to the consumption of alco- Lieutenant. Gen. Jones then served as May's designation by informing Marines, Sailors and shown a decrease in alcohol-related incidents, the hol. senior aide, and as the military secretary to their families of the effects alcohol can have. designation of May as Alcohol Abuse Awareness O'Guin said educating people' so they realize what the commandant of the Marine Corps. A lot of people know alcohol is a depressant, but Month gives unit SACOs support in their continued heavy drinking is, is a step in "everybody learning to During the 1990s he commanded the they may not necessarily know how harmful it can be individual efforts to show people how alcohol abuse take responsibility." 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp to one's body and brain, said Roger O'Guin, director impacts lives. The base SACC is available for providing ongoing Lejeune, N.C. as well as the 2nd Marine of the MCB Hawaii SACC. "It gives us a better opportunity to bring facts to education for individuals and leaders, according to Division, also from Camp Lejeune, and he Alcohol Abuse Awareness Month is a movement to light," said Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Keenan, 3rd Marine O'Guin. For information on classes available through served with the U.S. European Command, educate us about alcohol's impact, O'Guin said. Base Regiment SACO. the SACC, call 257-3900/7120. Stuttgart, Germany. He also served duty with residents can expect to see educational booths at the Keenan said he plans on using the month as a Editor's note: This is the first in a series of Alcohol the office of the chief of Naval operations, main exchange and the Semper Fit Center throughout pedestal for showing Marines patterns in alcohol Abuse Awareness Month articles the Hawaii Marine then as the deputy chief of staff for Plans, the month, as well as messages on channel 2 and the abuse, such as high rates of incidents on pay day will publish during May. Next week the topic will be Policies and Operations, Headquarters base marquee. weekends. recognizing the abuse of alcohol. Marine Corps. Kaneohe Bay to follow new watering schedule Pfc. Roman Yank The new base family housing units are od, a letter to the servicemember's com- Combat Correspondent A Section temporarily exempt from the schedule, mand is issued. A third violation in six Summer Sergeant Major's Corner 2 The summer watering schedule for according to Kieper. months can result in a final warning let- Watering Schedule Every Clime and Place 3 MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, is now in Once the grass grows in these new ter. Effective May throu,idi October- 3/3 Training 4 effect. areas, the residents will be required to After receiving a final warning letter, Tax Center 5 The schedule., which began Saturday, adhere to the same watering schedule as residents must report to the base inspec- All areas, except family housing Word to Pass 6 added an extra day for watering, accord- the rest of the base. tor and show why they should not be 6-8 a.m. or 6-8 p.m., Blotter, Salutes, Menu 7 ing to Gunnery Sgt. Russell D. Keiper, Violations to the watering times can evicted. Further violations automatically Monday and Tuesday Base Choir 8 base inspector chief. result in citations, according to Keiper. result in an eviction board hearing, Kaneohe Family Housing areas The watering schedule is in effect to Both base and housing inspectors issue according to Keiper. Even munbered home's. B Section help conserve water and decrease K- the citations. The base inspector and housing office 6-8 a.m. or 6-8 p.m., Swamp Romp Bay's water bill, Keiper explained. For the first violation, Keiper said, he representatives offered tips for conserv- Tuesday and Saturday May Day "People must conserve water," said will try to give a verbal warning and edu- ing water, including putting a nozzle with Intramural Standings Edward W. Kerr, supervisory area hous- cate people on the watering schedule. a shut-off valve on all hoses and not over- Odd numbered houses Band at CDC ing representative. "Due to the shortage After that, further disobedience will watering plants or' grass. Also, when 643 11.111. or 6-8 p.m Religion, Ticket to Fun 3 of rainfall this winter, it is up to everyone result in the issuance of citations. If two washing a car, just spray the car and turn Wednesday and Sunday Classified Ads, Movies to cut back on wasted water." citations are received in a six-month peri- off the water, or use a nozzle.

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