July 17, 2014 -- Marines blanketed Gammon Field in parade formation Friday to say farewell to Col. John Giltz and welcome Col. Daniel Longwell, Fort Leonard Wood's incoming Marine Detachment commander.
Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, commended the Marine Corps team on their great job of serving the nation.
"As we continue to merge our resources in these joint-training environments, I can't think of any other place that I've seen Marines do this great of work than here at Fort Leonard Wood," Smith said.
Smith welcomed the Longwell Family to Fort Leonard Wood.
"Dan, welcome to Fort Leonard Wood and your next command," Smith said. "I have complete confidence that you will carry on the great customs and traditions John (Giltz) and the Marine Corps Detachment have accomplished here, while at the same time putting your own stamp on a very fine group of Marines."
Longwell said he is looking forward to working with such a close-knit group.
"It's really humbling to stand before you today as the newest member of the Marine detachment here at Fort Leonard Wood and also as the newest member of Maneuver Support Center of Excellence," Longwell said. "I can tell by many of the Army uniforms in our audience, this really is the type of team that seems close."
Smith thanked Giltz for a job well done and said he never missed an opportunity to tell the Marine Corps story to senior leadership.
"Although your time has come to an end here, you've left an indelible mark on the Marines that you've commanded and our Fort Leonard Wood team," Smith said. "You are an outstanding leader, you've done an outstanding job in the training development and other initiatives that you've done here."
Giltz is departing Fort Leonard Wood and heading to Headquarters Marine Corps at the Pentagon, where he will fill the role of director for Logistics, Plans and Operations.
Longwell is coming to Fort Leonard Wood from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he was the Marine Corps Detachment commanding officer.
Smith said he is proud he of the relationship the post has with the detachment.
"I'm extremely proud of the relationship the Army has with her sister services and especially our United States Marine Corps Detachment as we continue to look forward and develop our shared objectives," Smith said.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to one of the largest Marine Corps Detachments with one of every seven new Marines passing through the MARCORDET.