MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- The entire Marine Corps Logistic Base Barstow community was abuzz with activity April 29, during a visit from the 31st Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos, and his wife Bonnie.
Shortly after landing at Barstow-Daggett Airport and being greeted by MCLB Barstow Commanding Officer, Col. Daniel Ermer and incoming base sergeant major Sgt.Maj. Donovan White, the Amos’ began whirlwind tours of both the Nebo and Yermo portions of the installation, with the general focusing more on the Marine combat aspect of operations, while his wife concentrated primarily on family-related activities.
Included in the early part of their tours were visits to the Marine and Family Services Division building to discuss the Warrior Strengthening Program, the Fellowship Hall at the Base Chapel, and an informative meeting with the Marines, Sailors, Civilian Marines and family members of MCLB Barstow.
During the meet-and-greet with members of the base community, Amos and his wife expressed their sincere gratitude for the hard work and sacrifice both service members and their families make in support of the ongoing combat mission overseas.
“Everywhere we go it’s great to meet the Marines and their families. We can’t thank you enough for all you do,” said Bonnie, who provides her husband, as well as other top Marine Corps leaders with “a ground-level look at what is going on with Marines and their families.”
“She travels with me everywhere and is not only my eyes and ears, but the Commandant’s as well,” Amos explained. “To families, she is the face of senior leadership in the Marine Corps. She doesn’t get paid a cent to talk to Marines and their family members; she does it because she loves the Marine Corps.”
The final stop during the ACMC’s tour of MCLBB was Maintenance Center Barstow, where he received an up-close look at the ongoing repair of ground combat vehicles and equipment, as well as hands-on experience with the cost-effective, environmentally-friendly Bio-Circle solvent cleaner used to remove grime from engine components.
“I was extremely impressed by the Continuous Process Improvement used at Barstow,” Amos said. “The ability to cut the turnaround time on the repair cycle of a combat vehicle by fifty percent not only saves money, it also leads to more jobs for workers. I was really wowed by it.”
A passionate opponent of terrorism, the Assistant Commandant revealed his own feelings about defeating it and addressed the role MCLB Barstow plays in fighting the War on Terror.
“The threat of terrorism is greater today than ever. Today it’s not one man like Saddam Hussein who is behind it,” Amos explained, “it’s an entire movement— a belief system. I am more dedicated and adamant now than ever that I’m going to do my part to end the threat of terrorism.”
“Barstow serves as the readiness piece in our mission overseas and has a remarkable repair facility,” he added. “Half of the combat equipment the Marine Corps needs to sustain the force overseas comes through Barstow and [MCLB] Albany, so we must continue to improve our home base readiness to fulfill that requirement.”