MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region bid farewell to its commanding general, Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, who relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo during a change of command ceremony on the commanding general’s lawn, June 30.
Bailey, who was commissioned in 1977, commanded MCRD SD/WRR since August 2009. He assumed command of the 1st Marine Division during a ceremony that same day and relinquished command of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, July 5.
Bailey expressed his gratitude to the Marines in his charge, their families and the San Diego community. He assured Yoo, whom he worked beside in Okinawa, that the MCRD SD/WRR community would continue the tradition of recruiting and making quality Marines.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pass the colors to a good friend and neighbor,” said Bailey. “The depot Marines will leave you standing proud.”
Bailey also assured the recruiters, drill instructors and support Marines now under Yoo’s command that they were in good hands.
“If you read his bio, [you will see that] Yoo is a tremendous officer,” said Bailey. “He is an officer of great caliber who is going to take this depot to a new level.”
Yoo was commissioned in 1985 as an infantry officer. He was previously assigned as the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.
After thanking Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos and the senior leadership who entrusted him with this command, Yoo expressed his sentiment towards those now under his charge.
“Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, I am honored and privileged to call myself your commanding general,” said Yoo. “This was a memorable send-off for Major General Bailey and a warm welcome to me.”
Bailey described to his guests how hearing the command ‘deliver the colors’ made his heart start to beat faster and how hearing it announced that he would command the 1st Marine Division made him stick out his chest a little more.
“When you hear someone say ‘deliver the colors,’ you know the tour is over,” said Bailey.
Bailey commented on the difficulty of attaining a rank and position worthy of having your own band, “If you’ve got a band, you know you’ve done something right.”
The passing of a unit’s organizational colors is representative of the transfer of command from the outgoing to the incoming commanding general. While this event means a new transition for the Marines, sailors and coast guardsmen aboard MCRD, it means a big transition for Yoo.
“Major General Bailey, you are a pro. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done during the transition,” said Yoo. “I wish you and your family fair winds and following seas.”