2nd Marine Regiment post and relief

[USMCRET6391]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (April 3,2006) -- The highest enlisted Marine of 2nd Marine Regiment relinquished authority to his successor in a post and relief ceremony in front of the regimental building here March 30.

Col. Stephen Davis, the commanding officer of the regiment, received a noncommissioned officer’s sword from Sgt. Maj. Thomas G. Reinig, his senior enlisted advisor, and presented it to Sgt. Maj. Anthony Hope in a symbolic transfer of staff NCO authority.

Hope is joining the regiment after serving with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “I heard about the great things these guys did in Iraq, and I’m looking forward to going back over when the opportunity arises,” Hope said.

Hope has experience and is prepared to supervise a larger group of Marines in a combat environment.

“I’ve been to Iraq before with 1/8 and this is just going to be on a bigger scale,” Hope said.

Before implementing new ideas, he said he plans to get a feel for the way things in the regiment work.

“I kind of like to sit back and see where things are. There might not be anything to fix,” Hope explained.

During the ceremony, Reinig was surprised with an award presentation in which he was presented the Bronze Star for actions in connection with combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I was kind of embarrassed. It wasn’t me doing all the work, it was the Marines,” Reinig stated. “I was just there to help them and show my support.”

Reinig plans to retire from the Marine Corps after his stint with 2nd Marine Regiment.

“I’ll probably go to work for base at one of the civil service jobs,” Reinig stated. “I’ve got about five or six people that want me to go work for them.”

Reinig is leaving the regiment after two years of serving as the regimental sergeant major.

“This was the best time in my career,” Reinig said. “The opportunity to serve the Marines, be with them in a combat environment and having the excellent leadership from our colonel made this regiment great.”

[Vulture6]

Good luck, SgtMajor!