MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- “You are on the fringes of empire,” Maj. Gen. Carl B. Jensen, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations East, said, as he addressed Marines and civil servants of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Jan. 26. “No one knows where MCLB Albany is until something goes wrong. You are truly silent professionals,” he said.
The commanding general visited MCLB Albany to speak with service members and personnel, tour sites around the base as well as present unit and individual awards. Jensen also brought with him news from around the Corps in regards to right sizing for future needs, upcoming fiscal restraints and other potential challenges the Corps faces.
“We’re no longer fighting two wars now that Marines have largely left Iraq,” Jensen said. “As you know now there are probably less than 100 Marines in Iraq and despite the fact that we are lowering our numbers from 202,000 there will always be those low density, high demand jobs that we’ll always need Marines for.”
During his tour Jensen presented the Commanding General’s Marine Corps Installations East Safety Award for Ground Safety Excellence to the command and congratulated them on a job well done. This is a regional award that recognizes the command’s efforts to create a culture of safety on the installation.
“There has not been an automotive fatality on this base in almost three years, “Jensen said. “That doesn’t happen by accident.”
Jensen also presented a cash award to Diane Martin who was recognized for her work in the Manpower Division.
The commanding general presented an award to David Dauro, utility supervisor; Terry Dorminey, high voltage electrician; and Charles Phelps for working to maintain electrical power in the midst of a recent ice storm, an accomplishment that enabled Maintenance Center Albany to fulfill its mission. The latter three individuals are employed with the Public Works division.
Base leadership also escorted Jensen and Sgt. Maj. Robert G. VanOostrom, sergeant major, MCIEAST, on a walk through tour of both the enlisted housing and the bachelors’ enlisted quarters.
Among the different groups that Jensen addressed he spent time talking to the Marines and police officers at the Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee Kennel.
“You Marines have the best job in the Corps,” Jensen said. “For thousands of years man would not go into war without his dog at his side. For the most part we had moved away from that. It’s good to see that we use them in Corps.”
Before he left, Jensen had parting comments for all base employees.
“I am pleased with all that you are doing, not just with safety, but also with energy,” said the commanding general. “I am also proud of your working relationship with (Marine Corps) Logistics Command and other tenant organizations, and with moving the business of the Marine Corps through this installation. I think that MCLB Albany is one of the genuine crossroads of the Corps with all of the gear that comes through here that gets fixed and brought back into the fight. It’s remarkable; just don’t stop.”