Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel takes the U.S. Central Command colors from Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis and prepares to hand the colors to Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III during the change-of-command ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., March 22, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
Change at CENTCOM: Mattis Out, Austin In -- The E-Ring/Foreign Policy
The flag has been passed at Central Command. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin took command from retiring Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis on Friday, as CENTCOM's focus shifts after more than a decade of war to an end-of-combat period for Afghanistan and expanded counterterrorism across the rest of the region.
“Ten years ago, both Jim Mattis and Lloyd Austin were in the Iraqi desert, on opposite sides of the Euphrates River, helping lead their troops in the drive to Baghdad,” said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, according to transcripts provided by the Pentagon.
Pentagon reporters were not invited to travel with Hagel to cover the ceremony.
Read more ....
Update #1: Austin Takes Central Command Flag From Mattis -- US Department of Defense
Update #2: Marine General Bids Farewell to Centcom Family -- US Department of Defense
My Comment: Even the White House made a note of this change. What's my take .... the departure of Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis is going to be felt on every level.
Update: Hagel’s Salty Farewell To Mattis -- DoD Buzz
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