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Navy Reserve units change commands

  • Published
  • By David Latini
  • Navy Operational Support Center
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  As a new season approaches, it means new changes for the Navy Reserves. Across the country, Navy Operational Support Centers have their annual change of command ceremonies.

The ceremony involves ambitious officers who have competed in front of a national apply board and been selected for the coveted opportunity to command a unit. Although a typical commanding officer tour is two years, the command billets are roughly being advertised each year. This ceremony recognizes the great achievement of the future commanding officers as they become a part of naval history.

The change of command ceremony was first formalized by regulation in Navy history during the Civil War. Although little has been updated, the change of ceremony remains the same.

The ceremony traditionally took place underway, when all hands were called to quarters at the appointed hour by the executive officer. The retiring commanding officer and his relief proceeds to the ceremonial area together, once all hands are at quarters. The retiring officer is the first one to speak to the crew. This is the time for the retiring officer to say his farewells to the command. Once the retiring officer's says his finally speech, he reads his orders of detachment, and step back for the relieving CO to read his orders to command.

Once the orders are read to the crew, the two CO's turn and face each other. The relieving officer salutes the retiring officer and says, "I relieve you sir." The retiring officer salutes, acknowledging that he has been properly relieved. The new CO returns in front of his new command and says his induction speech as the new Skipper of the command. Once the Skipper speaks to his crew, he then turns to the executive officer and orders the XO to continue with ships' routine. The command acknowledges and carries of the plan of the day.

Here at NOSC-Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, 12 commanding officers have continued on with this time honored tradition. NOSC-JB MDL would like to congratulate the commanding officers.

Naval Reserve JTF 600: Capt. Donald McMahon relieved by Capt. Thomas Foley Nov. 20, 2010.

Naval Reserve EUCOM 0193: Capt. Daniel Roman relieved by Capt. John F. Weigold Nov. 20, 2010.

Naval Reserve 4th MAR Den BN: Capt. Gary Woerz relieved by Cmdr. Gregory Cline Nov. 20, 2010.

Naval Reserve Third NAVELR: Capt. Deborah Haven relieved by Capt. Robert Dodson Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve DIAHQ 0601: Capt. Melinda Suszan relieved by Capt. Michael P. Cannon Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve DIAHQ 0501: Capt. Joanne Smith relieved by Cmdr. Joseph Cubba Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve ONI 1201: Capt. Ronald Serrano relieved by Capt. Lee Miller Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve Admiralty Law: Capt. Robert M. Elwell relieved by Capt. CAPT. Joseph Misenti Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve FISCSI Contracting A: CDR Michael Curran relieved by Cmdr. Robert J. O'Donnell Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve International Op & Law: Capt. Gregory P. Noone relieved by Capt. William M. Wheeler Dec. 1, 2010.

Naval Reserve DLA-LAT Philadelphia: CDR Christopher M. Higgins relieved by Cmdr. Amy L. Lyons Dec. 1, 2010.