MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- The Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Training Command unit colors were activated at a Colors designation ceremony at Range 215 July 9.
Brig. Gen. Douglas M. Stone, MAGTFTC commanding general, assisted by Sgt. Maj. William Johnson, MAGTFTC sergeant major, uncased the national and organizational colors.
“Brig. Gen. Stone uncasing the flags is important because he is the commanding general of MAGTFTC, which is the training, tactical side,” said Johnson. “Then on the other hand he is also in charge of MCAGCC, which is the base side and support units.”
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Keith J. Stalder, Commanding General, Training and Education Command. He talked with Marines involved with Mojave Viper and the Combat Center Color Guard.
“I appreciate all that you are doing and that is my essential message, to thank each and every one of you,” said Stalder. “I want to tell you what a huge difference you are making in the Marine Corps and the whole war. So, my thanks to all you great Marines.”
“MAGTFTC falls under TECOM, and Maj. Gen. Stalder is responsible for all training organizations throughout the Marine Corps that fall under TECOM from the School of Infantry, to the depots and Mojave Viper,” said Johnson. “Basically to have the commanding general here was very important.”
During the ceremony, Sgt. Donald F. Lutz Jr. and Cpl. Brandi R. Landrum, Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group, received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Sgt. Lutz received the gold star in lieu of second award.
“Recognizing Marines within TTECG showed that sergeant’s and below have a tremendous impact,” said Johnson. “To see them recognized for all their hard efforts and long hours was significant.’
Master Gunnery Sgt. Karl W. Nugent, TTECG, read off the lineage of the MAGTFTC from 1952 to 2005.
The colors were activated August 20, 1952 as Camp Detachment, Marine Corps Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The following February the colors were re-designated as Marine Corps Training Center.
In 1957, it was re-designated as Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, Calif., because it had reached base status. It was re-designated in October 1978 as Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center after the expeditionary airfield was completed.
In February 1979, the base was again re-designated Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, which is still currently active. From 1990 to 2004, MCAGCC participated in support of numerous operations and deployments.
In 2000, it was re-designated as Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. It was approved last year on Nov. 28, by Gen. M.W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps.
The addition of MAGTFTC was not just a change in name but an additional mission for MCAGCC. The additional mission was to provide support and training for all deploying units.
“The units that TTECG trains that are going to war are the best trained units the Marine Corps has ever sent out there,” said Stalder. “It gets better and better everyday because of the training here.”