Relief and Appointment

12 April 2007
By 1st Sgt. Marvin Baker
US CENTCOM Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Marine Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey A. Morin assumed his current post as senior enlisted leader of United States Central Command today during a ceremony in front of the headquarters building here.

Morin becomes the principal adviser to U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. William J. Fallon pertaining to matters affecting more than 230,000 U.S. and Coalition forces serving in the 27 countries that comprise the command’s area of responsibility.

Morin, replaces Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Curtis L. Brownhill who has served in his position the past three years and is retiring.

The event was highlighted by Fallon’s passing of the traditional noncommissioned officer ceremonial sword. The tradition dates back to the 1850s.

“There’s one common theme here and it’s about people,” Morin said. “It’s not about Curt Brownhill and it’s not about Jeff Morin. It’s about Central Command. It’s about the people who put the command and the command’s mission first.”

A native of Auburn, Maine , Morin enlisted in 1977. Throughout his career he has served with infantry, mechanized infantry, aviation, combat service support and headquarters service commands. He has also served time as a drill instructor and with the U.S. State Department.

Fallon made note of Morin’s accomplishments that include combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan ..

“Jeff Morin is a Marine,” Fallon said. “First and foremost he’s a grunt, a rifleman. He’s been there and done that, and he comes with a great reputation.”

Brownhill, in his closing remarks, echoed Fallon’s confidence.

“Jeff Morin in uniquely qualified,” Brownhill said. “He is everything we could hope for.”

Morin has participated in numerous Western Pacific deployments including three in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

As a command senior enlisted leader, Morin’s assignments were Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego; 1st Stinger Battery, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Headquarters Battalion 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable, Camp Pendleton; Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. and U.S. Marine Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

Morin’s joint duty experience includes assignments as the command senior enlisted leader for the Marine Component to Joint Task Force, National Capital Region, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk; U.S. Marine Corps Europe, Stuttgart, Germany and U.S. Marine Corps South, Miami.

Morin made it clear that he will continue to interact with the troops and the leadership, just as he has done throughout his career. He said he coined a phrase in each command that he has served in.

“I work for you. Nobody in this command will ever work for me,” he said. “Everybody says they have an open-door policy. I don’t have a door.”

Morin’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star and the Combat Action Ribbon.

“It was a good chapter,” Brownhill said about the history of his tenure at Central Command. “But I promise you, it will be the next chapter that you will want to read.”

Photo: Admiral William J. Fallon, commander, U.S. Central Command, passes the ceremonial sword to the command’s new senior enlisted leader Marine Sgt. Maj. Jeffery A. Morin during a relief and appointment ceremony held at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Patrick Ziegler)