News

1st Mar Div Logo
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Results:
Category: 3DAABN
CLEAR ALL

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sergeant Maj. Clifford Wiggins, the former sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, hands a noncommissioned officer sword to Lt. Col. William Blanchard, the commanding officer of 3rd AABn., as Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Woods (left) takes over as battalion sergeant major during a relief and appointment ceremony here, Aug. 23, 2013. Relief and appointment ceremonies are one of the many traditions upheld in the Marine Corps today, which involves the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword from the outgoing sergeant major to the oncoming. The passing of the sword signifies the transfer of responsibility and entails the transfer of total accountability and authority, from one senior enlisted Marine to another. The sword thus continues as the personification of military tradition and is entrusted to those most responsible for maintaining it. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sergeant Maj. Clifford Wiggins, the former sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, hands a noncommissioned officer sword to Lt. Col. William Blanchard, the commanding officer of 3rd AABn., as Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Woods (left) takes over as battalion sergeant major during a relief and appointment ceremony here, Aug. 23, 2013. Relief and appointment ceremonies are one of the many traditions upheld in the Marine Corps today, which involves the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword from the outgoing sergeant major to the oncoming. The passing of the sword signifies the transfer of responsibility and entails the transfer of total accountability and authority, from one senior enlisted Marine to another. The sword thus continues as the personification of military tradition and is entrusted to those most responsible for maintaining it.

Sergeant Richard Skates, a 25-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., and an amphibious assault vehicle crewman serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, standing with his wife, Jacqueline Skates, a 22-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., helped save the lives of four when he rushed to their rescue after their vehicle crashed on Interstate Highway 5, July 9, 2013. The Skates, along with their 2-month-old son, were traveling on an exit ramp from state Route 78 to Interstate Highway 5 when he selflessly rushed to save a family from an overturned car that was involved in a crash. - Sergeant Richard Skates, a 25-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., and an amphibious assault vehicle crewman serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, standing with his wife, Jacqueline Skates, a 22-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., helped save the lives of four when he rushed to their rescue after their vehicle crashed on Interstate Highway 5, July 9, 2013. The Skates, along with their 2-month-old son, were traveling on an exit ramp from state Route 78 to Interstate Highway 5 when he selflessly rushed to save a family from an overturned car that was involved in a crash.