Sgt. Maj. Frank Kammer Jr. assumed the role of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s sergeant major on Feb. 9, coming to southwest Georgia after serving as the command senior enlisted leader of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.He now expects to build on the current foundation at MCLB Albany to set up a legacy for the future.The Chattanooga, Tennessee native enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1998, at the age of 31. He graduated from high school in Ringgold, Georgia and later made a living in various jobs in construction and computer programming until he saw a few of his friends come back from Operation Desert Storm.“I knew something was missing and wanted to serve,” Kammer said. “I’m lucky and blessed, at 57 and serving for
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Capt. Devon Duarte’s primary role is the deputy operations officer for the Communications and Information Systems Division at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. He also has a separate role of strong personal significance to him.Duarte, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, serves as the unit readiness coordinator at MCLB Albany. This servicemember, formerly known as the family readiness officer, is the command’s representative and point of contact for family readiness issues and concerns for all military members, is the one-stop shop for information all Marine Corps Community Services programs, events and resources at the installation and is the advocate and information source for the families of single Marines.“It’s for the unit,” he said.
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Col. Matthew J. McKinney, commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Frank B. Kammer, sergeant major, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, alongside Col. Gary Thompson, chief of staff, Marine Corps Logistics Command joined other community leaders for the fourth annual handshake competition at Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy, March 6.The competition was a culmination of the soft-skills curriculum, Shake it Up, that began with over 200 students. After several rounds, 10 finalists competed for the top prize and recognition. The overall winner is Nicholas Redden.Congratulations and Semper Fidelis.
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A program geared toward the development of southwest Georgia’s youth is near and dear to the active-duty servicemembers of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, so much so that active-duty Marines at the installation have been instrumental in keeping it alive.The Albany Young Marines is part of a national award-winning program for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18. The Young Marines is designed to strengthen the lives of America's youth by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic achievement, honoring veterans, good citizenship, community service and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.“We instill the value of teamwork and discipline, like other youth organizations,” Eric Crump, the unit’s commander, said. “What sets
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Albany Technical College was recently approved as a provider for the Department of Defense SkillBridge program.The DOD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships during the last 180 days of service.The college’s programs fall into the SkillBridge category of “Employment Skills Training Program.” Albany Tech has been approved to offer the Firefighter 1 and Commercial Truck Driving programs through SkillBridge.A memorandum of understanding was signed this week to that effect by Albany Tech President Emmett Griswold and Col. Matthew McKinney, commanding officer, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.“Albany Technical College
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With the nearest emergency veterinarian a considerable distance away from Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, handlers are effectively the first responders when their military working dogs are injured or ill.A robotic dog designed to train handlers for such scenarios came to MCLB Albany in recent months. And it’s a big improvement over tools used previously.“The old training dog was manual,” said Lt. Tonette Allen, kennel master, Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee Kennel, MCLB Albany. “The new one was issued by the Department of Defense to every Marine Corps installation.”The robotic dog is named “Fitz” after Col. Michael Fitzgerald, former commanding officer of MCLB Albany. Fitz can bark, whine and be used to practice scenarios such as a gunshot
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Marines and Sailors with Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany volunteered to help supervise and judge the NJROTC Area 12 Sanctioned Drill Meet at Lee County High School on Oct. 21.Area 12 consists of all JROTC units within the state of Georgia, as well as a few units in Northern Florida. The competition included a series of events occurring throughout the day consisting of academics, athletics, personnel inspections, and multiple forms of drill.
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Col. Matthew McKinney assumed the reins at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany bursting with ideas and enthusiasm on how to move the base forward.Much of this enthusiasm centers around strengthening the base’s bond with people they depend on both in and outside the fence line.McKinney took command of MCLB Albany on June 29, succeeding Col. Michael J. Fitzgerald. He came to Albany from the role of chief operations officer and contracting officer representative at the Capability Prototypes Office under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, which he had been serving in since May 2021.The colonel was exposed to the military life early.“My father was a Navy doc. He inspired me to serve,” McKinney said.He was
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Going from food service specialist to a logistics officer and company commander, Capt. Jennifer Adams has grown substantially in her time as a U.S. Marine.She is not done growing yet.Adams started off in 2005 as an enlisted Marine working in a food service specialist billet. In 2017, at that time a staff sergeant, she began the transition as a commissioned officer and later earned the military occupational specialty of logistics officer.“I have been on the logistics track my entire career,” she said. “I have served in units amongst the three major subordinate commands in the Marine Corps, including 2nd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and 1st Marine Logistics Group and have been serving in logistical roles to the point where I am
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