Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III, relinquished command of III Marine Expeditionary Force to Lt. Gen. James W. Bierman, Jr., Nov. 9, 2021 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan.

Prior to assuming command of III MEF, Bierman served as the commanding general of 3d Marine Division, the largest and oldest active duty division in the Marine Corps. During his remarks Clardy, a Georgetown, South Carolina, native, expressed his sentiment about the command that Bierman now leads.

“It’s been my distinct honor to stand here with you,” said Clardy, as he referenced the Marines present at the change of command. “This only represents 1% of the force of III MEF. There’s another 99% who are standing the watch, preparing for crisis and war—whatever their nation needs them to do. There’s another 150,000 Marines on the other side of the Pacific; they will swim, crawl, or march to the sounds of the guns if there’s a crisis in the western pacific.”

Furthermore, regarding III MEF’s Japanese Self-Defense Force counterparts, Clardy exclaimed, “You are our friends. We stand with anybody who needs and looks out for the freedom in the Indo-Pacific, who loves peace, who loves stability. We’ll stand with them shoulder to shoulder.”

During the ceremony, Bierman conveyed his optimism for the future of III MEF. “For the Marines, Sailors and civilians of III MEF, what an honor and a privilege it is for me to continue to serve you, with you, for you,” said Bierman, a Jacksonville, North Carolina native. “This is the fourth time that I’ve taken command in III MEF over the last 16 years. I think a lot has changed in that time, the world has turned a couple times. We certainly find ourselves facing new, significant challenges, but in all that time, what has not changed one iota, one bit, is the courage, the steady determination, the competence of the Marines and Sailors of III MEF. As we face the challenges in the future, that gives me no end of confidence. Shoulder to shoulder with the fleet, with the joint force, with our allies and partners, we are ready to take on all challenges.”

III MEF provides the United States with a forward-deployed force in readiness in the Pacific theater. It is a globally responsive, expeditionary, and fully scalable Marine Air Ground Task Force, capable of employing forces for operations ranging from crisis response to major combat.

“Moving forward III MEF will continue to do whatever needs to be done,” said Bierman. “We will spare no effort to deter would-be adversaries, to maintain peace in this region, but if necessary, weare prepared to deploy and fight and win on short notice.”