Story by Sgt. Jesula Jeanlouis.
Marine Forces Special Operations Command hosted a change of command ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 23, 2022. Major General James F. Glynn relinquished his duties as the commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command to Major General Matthew G. Trollinger.
The senior officer in attendance was General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Also in attendance was U.S. Army General Richard D. Clarke, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, previous commanders of MARSOC, and various dignitaries from the local government.
Presiding over the ceremony, General Berger said, “There is a time when the right person comes in at exactly the right time and has the courage to look at what you [have to] do right now, but also where they have to be in the future, that has been General Glynn and Denise.”
Glynn took the helm as MARSOC’s eighth commander on June 26, 2020, returning to MARSOC after previously serving as the commanding officer of the Marine Raider Training Center from 2011-2013.
“As I turn over the colors today,” continued Glynn, “somebody asked what’s it like? Somewhere between excitement and pride is what I could describe, as you hold the flag and let go. Pride in knowing that that formation, in two-years’ time will not look like this. I couldn’t be more excited to hand this over and know that this place is going to be different. And by being different, it’s going to be better.”
Trollinger assumes command after serving his previous tour as the deputy director, Politico-Military Affairs (Middle East), J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
“To the Marines and Sailors of the command, I’m just so grateful,” said Trollinger. “[I have] a lot of pride and humility to stand in front of this formation with you. As has been stated, we’re in a number of areas right now doing a number of different things in pursuit of our national security interests. And as General Glynn mentioned, the command is doing great things moving us into the future and Nancy and I are tremendously proud to be back here and leading this organization.”
As the MARSOC Commander, Trollinger will be responsible for manning, training, and equipping Marine Raiders for deployments in support of special operations missions across the globe. MARSOC maintains a continuous deployed presence in the areas of operations for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command.
“I believe that MARSOC has and will continue to play a critical role in your vision for the Marine Corps into the future and I do believe that when any of our components, whether be the [Air Force] or Navy, Army or Marine Corps, are closest to their services, it makes us collectively better, and it makes SOCOM a better headquarters going forward.” said Clarke.
MARSOC is the Marine Corps service component of U.S. Special Operations Command and was activated Feb. 24, 2006. Since then, MARSOC has deployed continuously in support of special operations forces worldwide. MARSOC’s current missions include counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, and preparation of the environment.
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This story by Sgt. Jesula Jeanlouis of MARSOC was first published on May 26, 2022 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS publishes content in the public domain.
Photo: Sgt. Maj. Anthony J. Loftus, Marine Forces Special Operations Command Sgt. Maj., passes the organizational colors to Maj. Gen. James F. Glynn, outgoing MARSOC Commander, during a change of command ceremony, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 23, 2022. The change of command ceremony represents the transition of command and responsibility of MARSOC from Maj. Gen. James F. Glynn to Maj. Gen. Matthew G. Trollinger. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Tia Nagle)