Photo Information

Master Chief Petty Officer Christopher Aldis receives a cutlass from Lt. Gen. Duane D. Thiessen, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, during a change-of-office ceremony at Bordelon Field here Jan. 20. Passing of the cutlass signifies the transfer of duties and responsibilities from one command master chief to another.

Photo by Cpl. Isis M. Ramirez

New year, new chief: MarForPac welcomes new Navy leader

20 Jan 2012 | Cpl. Isis M. Ramirez U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

Master Chief Petty Officer Christopher R. Angstead passed his duties as the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, command master chief to his replacement, Master Chief Petty Officer Christopher Aldis, during a change-of-office ceremony at Bordelon Field here Jan. 20.

Angstead, who enlisted in the Navy in 1985, spent the past three years working as the Navy’s senior-enlisted advisor to the MarForPac commander. He has considered his tour here successful, and although he enjoyed working with the MarForPac command and staff, he looks forward to future experiences at his next command.

“(Leaving is) bittersweet,” said Angstead. “I’ve got an extraordinary boss, Lt. Gen. [Duane D.] Thiessen, the staff, the command, you can’t get any better than that. But as you (become) senior, you’ll find out that you seek that personal professional challenge.”

The challenge Angstead looks to conquer is becoming the command master chief of Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

“It’s a challenge because of what boot camp signifies,” Angstead said. “You’re transitioning a civilian to a Sailor, then sending them out with the knowledge and tools to be successful in the fleet.”

Aldis, the man filling his shoes, says Angstead will have a substantial impact on future Sailors.

“When you ask someone in this [Marine] uniform what they do, they say, ‘I’m a Marine,’” Aldis said. “If you ask somebody in the Navy, they’ll tell you ‘I’m a (religious program specialist) or I’m a (hospital corpsman)’. But what I think that Master Chief Angstead is going to bring to (the Navy) is … the understanding that I’m first a Sailor, and I have to represent the organization that way.”

Receiving an experienced command master chief isn’t exclusive to the Navy’s Recruit Training Command. MarForPac is also welcoming a master chief with more than 13 years of Fleet Marine Force salt on his shoulders.

“I’ve spent almost 14 years out of 23 (in the Navy) with the Marines,” Aldis said. “I think the impact I bring is that I can have an overview, an understanding and a real-world experience of all three combat elements that are within a (Marine Air-Ground Task Force), and combine those things when we are talking about plans and policies and personnel.”

Aldis looks forward to the challenge of being the senior-enlisted Sailor in the largest field command in the Marine Corps.

“My promise to you Marines and Sailors out here is that I will dedicate myself to making sure that you have the training and also the quality of life that you deserve for the job you do,” said Aldis.