MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- David G. Reist left New York with his college degree 27 years ago, never knowing he'd wear the star of a Marine general officer.
That all changed in 10 minutes.
Brig. Gen. Reist assumed command of the 8,900 Marines and sailors of the 1st Force Service Support Group from Maj. Gen. Richard S. Kramlich during a change of command ceremony at the 22 Area parade deck here Friday morning - but not before his promotion from colonel to brigadier general on the same day.
Reist, Kramlich's former chief of staff, will rely on past combat leadership experience from his Marines and sailors while commanding the 1st FSSG.
"(My) confidence in combat leaders (within the FSSG) is across the board, and that goes from brigadier general to private," Reist said Aug. 4, just one day before assuming command of the 1st FSSG.
Kramlich, recently approved by the U.S. Senate for promotion to lieutenant general, will assume command as the deputy commandant of Installations and Logistics at Headquarters Marine Corps. Kramlich will now act on behalf of the commandant of the Marine Corps in designated matters of logistics policy and management, and coordinate logistics actions with other agencies.
A veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Kramlich led the 1st FSSG through an 11-month tour in Iraq, including the direct logistical support in the fight for Fallujah last November.
Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, said that Kramlich's numerous combat experiences will prove invaluable in future planning and decision making at his new post.
The 1st Force Service Support Group provided combat service support, including logistical and medical support, to I Marine Expeditionary Force units throughout Iraq's Al Anbar province - during the initial Baghdad invasion in March 2003, and I MEF's return to Iraq last February.
Sattler congratulated the Marines for their outstanding work in stability and support operations.
"When it was time to push that network of supplies forward, there was no infantry to escort you," Sattler said.
"We found a way to energize what the (I Marine Expeditionary Force) had to do," he said. "We weren't there for our own aggrandizement. We were doing it for what was happening on the battlefield."
During his final remarks to his Marines and sailors, Kramlich told them that they exemplified the true nature of the Marine Corps.
"You all know the slogan that every Marine is a rifleman," he said. "Well what you're seeing here is the living, breathing example of that bumper sticker. This is a combat FSSG."
As Kramlich's former chief of staff, Reist already has a solid foundation in the unit and has led FSSG units with the 1st Marine Division during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and again when the Marines returned to Iraq early last year.
Kramlich placed full confidence in his replacement, stating that Reist "loves Marines" and "understands NCOs," whom Kramlich says he expects to support and train Iraqi forces in rudimentary elements of combat service support, including maintenance and accountability.
As the FSSG heads back to Iraq, a focus will be made on training and supporting Iraqi troops. Reist said that those who've been there before understand the importance of this, and know that prior experience will prove invaluable.
In his closing remarks,Reist promised the Marines and sailors of the 1st FSSG that "we will never let you down."
Biographical information:
Reist's command assignments include: commanding officer, Company A, 2nd Landing Support Battalion (1981-1982); commanding officer, Company A, Marine Barracks 8th & I (1985-1986); commanding officer, Beach & Port Company, 2nd Landing Support Battalion (1989-1990); commanding officer, 1st Landing Support Battalion (1997-1998); CO 1st Transportation Support Battalion (2002-2004) (redesignated Transportation Support Group during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Combat Service Support Group-11 during Operation Iraqi Freedom-II).
Reist's staff assignments include: Division G-4, 3rd Marine Division (1982-1983); Head, Motor Transport, Engineer, and Utilities Writer Section, Marine Corps Institute (1983-1984); Registrar, Marine Corps Institute (1984-1985); Operations Officer, MSSG-22 for LF6F 4-87 and 1-89 (1987-1989); Ground Prepositioning Program Sponsor (1990-1992) and Maritime Prepositioning Program Sponsor (1992-1993), Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps; Current Operations Officer, U.S. Central Command J-4/7 (1994-1997); Deputy G-3, 1st FSSG (2000); Faculty Advisor (2000-2001) and Deputy Director (2001-2002), Marine Corps Command and Staff College; and Chief of Staff, 1st FSSG (2004-2005).
Reist graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with one Gold Star, and the Navy Achievement Medal.