Marines

Amos assuming command of II MEF

23 Jul 2004 | Lance Cpl. Ruben D. Maestre Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Major General James F. Amos assumed command of II Marine Expeditionary Force from Lt. Gen. Henry P. Osman during a change of command ceremony at II MEF Headquarters here July 23.

Osman began his career in the Marine Corps when he enlisted in March 1967.  Selected for the Platoon Leader's Class program, Osman graduated from Old Dominion College in 1969, subsequently receiving his commission as a second lieutenant.

After The Basic School, Osman served in several platoon commander billets, including duty as a rifle platoon commander assigned with 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment while serving in South Vietnam.  In July 1971, Osman was assigned to Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va., where he served a number of billets before becoming a staff member at TBS in 1973.

Graduating from the Amphibious Warfare School in 1976, Osman was assigned to 1st Marine Division where he served as a company commander with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and the billets of logistics officer and operations officer with 1st Marines. 

In 1979, Osman did a tour at sea aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Eisenhower, as the commander of the ship's Marine detachment.  In the years following, Osman attended the Armed Forces Staff College, served at the Manpower Department at Headquarters Marine Corps, and was selected as the aide to the assistant commandant.

Returning to the 1st Marine Division in 1986, Osman served as a G-3 plans officer and as commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.  In 1989, Osman attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defense College in Rome, Italy, later serving as Chief of Strategy while assigned with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

Returning to the U.S. in 1992, Osman served as commanding officer for the Officer Candidates School, Quantico, Va.   In 1995, he was promoted to brigadier general while assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps.  From there, Osman assumed command of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region, San Diego, and as director of Operational Plans and Joint Force Development in Washington, D.C., before assuming his current duties in August 2002.

A graduate from the University of Idaho in 1970, Amos was designated as a naval aviator in 1971.  Operational assignments include tours flying the F-4 Phantom II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 212, 235, 232 and 122.   Amos assumed command of Marine Air Base Squadron 24 in 1985, later recommissioning it as Marine Wing Support Squadron 173.  Later, after the transition to the F/A-18 Hornet, Amos assumed command of VMFA-312, subsequently joining the Carrier Air Wing Eight aboard the USS Roosevelt.  During this tour, his squadron earned the Hanson Trophy as the Marine Corps' "Fighter Squadron of the Year."

Amos assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 Beaufort, S.C., in 1996.  In August 2002, he assumed command of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing deploying with the unit to Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II during the duration of his command there.

Staff assignments for Amos include tours with Marine Aircraft Groups 15 and 31, with the III Marine Amphibious Force, Training Squadron Seven, The Basic School and with the MAGTF Staff Training Program.  Assigned to NATO in 1998, Amos served as deputy commander, Naval Striking Forces, Southern Europe and as the U.S. Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces, Europe, in Naples, Italy.  It was during this tour that he commanded NATO's Verification Coordination Center during Kosovo operations and as Chief of Staff, U.S. Joint Task Force Noble Anvil during Operation Allied Force.  In 2000, Amos was assigned as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation followed by his service as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations Department at Headquarters Marine Corps.  Following his assignment there, Amos assumed command as commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, San Diego.