MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Fulfilling his mission to visit all major Marine Corps installations, the Chaplain of the Marine Corps, Rear Adm. Mark L. Tidd, stopped at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 13 and 14. His focus is to gain a better understanding of the Marines and sailors he has been assigned to help, said Tidd.
Tidd was named Chaplain of the Marine Corps in Aug. 2009 after decades of service in numerous leadership positions. Before his latest appointment, Tidd served on the chief of chaplain’s staff as the branch head for Professional Development and Religious Programs and as the advanced training officer at The Navy Chaplain School. He was also assigned as the force chaplain for U.S., Naval Forces Central Command and the fleet chaplain for U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain.
As Chaplain of the Marine Corps, his main goal is to provide the best advice he can to the commandant concerning three primary areas; emotional and spiritual support for Marines and sailors going into combat zones, assistance to families of deployed service members and the welfare of chaplains assigned to Marine Corps commands, said Tidd.
“One of the things (the commandant) charged me to do was to get out and see Marine and sailors,” said Tidd. “I couldn’t let the year end without seeing Camp Pendleton.”
Camp Pendleton is one of the last three installations Tidd has remaining on his West Coast tour. Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-nine Palms are the next stops for Tidd.
The visit to Camp Pendleton concluded with a one-on-one meeting with Marine Corps Base Cap Pendleton’s commanding officer Col. Nicholas F. Marano.
“I can tell (Marano) has a very deep commitment to taking care of the Marines, sailors and families on Camp Pendleton,” said Tidd. “It takes an awful lot of hard work and dedication to fulfill his responsibilities.”
During his visit to numerous military installations across the U.S., Tidd received guiding words of wisdom from commanders, service members and other chaplains.
“We share ideas back and fourth about the best ways we can support each other in our similar goal of taking care of Marines and sailors,” said Tidd. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount during my trip and know all the ideas and advice I’ve been given will come in great use during my time as Chaplain of the Marine Corps.”