Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. -- Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division gathered July 8, 2011, at the Goettge Field House aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. for a relief and appointment ceremony.
Sgt. Maj. Douglas Schaefer relinquished his duties as battalion sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Brett Scheuer during the event.
The ceremony started with an invocation by the chaplain and then continued with ceremonial music and the traditional passing of the swords. During the passing of the swords, the outgoing sergeant major passes on a sword to the incoming sergeant major as a symbol of passing on the command of their battalion.
During Schaefer’s time with 2/9, he deployed with them to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“I spent 17 months with 2/9,” said Schaefer. “It was a dream job. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I served with the best of men in the worst of conditions.”
Now that Scheuer has taken over as the battalion sergeant major, he is preparing for a deployment later this year.
“I’m very excited about being back at division,” said Scheuer who had previously served with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd MarDiv as the Headquarters and Service Company first sergeant until his promotion to sergeant major in February 2010.
“It’s always great to be a part of history with division. All of these battalions have a rich history and we will continue to build history.”