Marines

Photo Information

Coast Guard Capt. Mark J. Wilbert, (left) the incoming commanding officer for The Joint Maritime Training Center, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, stands at attention as Coast Guard Rear Adm. Stephen Mehling, (center) commander of Force Readiness Command relieves Capt. Steve Weiden (right) of his command during the change of command ceremony, April 15.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Victor Barrera

Joint Maritime Training Center welcomes new CO

15 Apr 2011 | Lance Cpl. Victor Barrera Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Command of the Joint Maritime Training Center aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune has recently changed hands. Coast Guard Capt. Steve Weiden, commanding officer for the JMTC, handed the reigns over to Coast Guard Capt. Mark Wilbert at BB 329 on Courthouse Bay, MCB Camp Lejeune, April 15.

Attending the ceremony were Maj. Gen. Carl B. Jensen, commanding general for Marine Corps Installations East; Col. Pete Ramey, commanding officer for the Marine Corps Engineer Center of Excellence; Col. Daniel Lecce, commanding officer for MCB Camp Lejeune; Coast Guard Capt. Anthony Popiel, commanding officer for Sector North Carolina and Rear Adm. Stephen Mehling, commander of Force Readiness Command.

During the change of command ceremony an inspection of unit personnel was conducted. This provided the incoming and outgoing commanding officers a chance to review the personnel and also allowed the commanding officer a chance to say a final farewell to the men and women that were under his command.

Once all formalities were completed, the ceremony began. The prospective commanding officer read the official orders of his new assignment. He then turned away from the crowd and requested permission from the presiding officer, Rear Adm. Mehling, to relieve Weiden from his duty as commanding officer.

The new CO then took time to speak to the crowd as well as his new unit.

“I’ve been here for a while and have talked to some of the great men and women here, and I know that this is one squared-away unit,” said Wilbert. “These are all superb professionals, that’s the only way to describe them.”

Wilbert enlisted into the Coast Guard in 1978 and worked his way up to the rank of chief petty officer. In 1988 was commissioned and has now served more than 30 years in the Coast Guard. He has been assigned to various commands across the United States, including stations in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida.

Wilbert’s personal decorations include three Meritorious Service Medals, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, a Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal, and two Coast Guard Achievement Medals.

He has been married to the former Ivy Lucke for 28 years and is the father of three grown children.