MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Major Gen. Robert C. Dickerson assumed command of Marine Corps Installations East during a ceremony here Oct. 4, attended by service members and local community leaders.
The activation of the regional command Marine Corps Installations East is part of a global effort to transform Marine Corps bases from singularly managed and resourced entities to ones strategically managed in geographic regions.
“We can have one staff do the same as all these other commands and reduce the cost it takes to run things,” said Dickerson, the newly appointed commander of MCI-East.
The new regional command of MCI-East encompasses Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; Marine Corps Air Station New River; MCAS Cherry Point; MCAS Beaufort, S.C.; Marine Logistics Base Albany, Ga.; Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Va. and Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Fla.
During the ceremony, Dickerson remarked, “This is an historical event as we unfurl the colors of Marine Corps Installations East.”
Individual installations will be commanded by colonels, which will make more flag officers available to participate and help with the Global War on Terrorism, according to Dickerson.
“The command will have laser focus to make sure the Marines and sailors and their families are our number one priority,” said Dickerson.
Marines and sailors on the installations will not be directly affected by this change, but with the decreased cost of operations, there will be more resources to improve the bases and improve the quality of life for the Marines, sailors and their families living there, according to Dickerson.
Previous supporting establishment reform initiatives have saved the Marine Corps more than $325 million and allocated more than 3,000 Marines back to the operating forces, contributing to continued modernization, combat readiness, and war fighting excellence.