1. Change of Command
GUNNER VINCENT S. POPE
AFTER 30 YEARS OF HONORABLE AND FAITHFUL
MILITARY SERVICE
WEAPONS TRAINING BATTALION
QUANTICO, VIRGINIA
Quantico, Virginia
15 may 2014
RETIREMENT CEREMONY
HONORING
10 NOVEMBER 2016
2. Change of Command
Quantico, Virginia
15 may 2014
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
PRE-CEREMONY SERENADE
INVOCATION
MARCH ON THE COLORS
NATIONAL ANTHEM
AWARD AND RETIREMENT PRESENTATION
COLONEL FARNUM’S REMARKS
GUNNER POPE’S REMARKS
ANCHORS AWEIGH
MARINES' HYMN
CONCLUSION OF CEREMONY
FLAG PRESENTATION
3. Change of Command
Quantico, Virginia
15 may 2014
MY RIFLE
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must
master my life. My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am
useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my
enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me.
I will . . . .
My rifle and I know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we
fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it
is the hits that count. We will hit . . . .
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as
a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its
accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the
ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready,
even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.
We will . . . .
Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my
country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my
life. So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy,
but Peace!
4. Gunner Pope serves as the Director of Marine Corps Marksmanship Programs within Weapons
Training Battalion, Quantico, Virginia.
Gunner Pope was born on 23 May 1967 in Mobile, Alabama. His family moved to Garland, Texas
in 1969 where he resided until enlisting in the Marine Corps on 10 November 1986.
After completion of recruit training and Infantry Training School, he was assigned to 3rd Bn, 7th
Marines. During this tour and a subsequent tour with 2d Bn, 7th Marines, he was trained as a
Scout Sniper and served within each Bn’s Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon. He served
in two Far East unit deployments where he executed numerous training operations,
humanitarian efforts and security missions throughout South-East Asia.
In June of 1990, Gunner Pope completed MSG School aboard Quantico, Va, and was assigned as
an embassy guard at the U. S. Embassy Manama, Bahrain and later Tel Aviv, Israel. Duties aboard
both of these posts included additional security missions for Operations Desert Shield and
Desert Storm.
In 1993 he received orders to 2d Marine Division Schools to become a formal schools instructor
aboard Scout Sniper School. From March 93 to Sep 94, Gunner Pope trained over 90 Marines as
MOS 8541 Scout Snipers.
GUNNER VINCENT S. POPE
5. In Sep 1994 Gunner Pope was reassigned to the newly formed 2d Surveillance, Reconnaissance
and Intelligence Group (2d SRIG). Within SRIG he served as a Remote Sensor Team leader and
later, that of training chief for 2d Intel Co within 2d SRIG. During this time Gunner Pope applied
for and was selected as an MOS 9925 Range Officer in 1997. After completion of TBS, Gunner
Pope was assigned as Platoon Commander and Range Officer for Starlite Range, WFTBN, Parris
Island SC.
As a Range Officer, Gunner Pope trained over 34,000 recruits while aboard PISC. As the Range
Training Facility OIC aboard K-Bay Hawaii between 2000 and 2004 he oversaw the installation
and operation of the Marine Corps’ first automated rifle-range. While serving as the Chief Range
Officer aboard Edson Range, MCRD San Diego (2004-2008) he oversaw the testing, validation and
implementation of the Marksmanship Tables in Entry-Level training for recruits. His last tour as
a Range Officer was within MPMS, WTBN Quantico where he oversaw the testing, validation and
implementation of the use of RCO’s for annual marksmanship training, as well as the initial
testing and development of the Combat Pistol Program.
Gunner Pope was selected as an MOS 0306 Marine Gunner in 2009 and completed the Infantry
Weapons Officer Course in 2010. Gunner Pope was reassigned and deployed with 2/8, as the
Battalion Gunner for Operation Enduring Freedom 11-1. Upon redeployment, Gunner Pope
served as the 8th Marine Regiment Gunner, prior to his current assignment aboard WTBN,
Quantico.
Gunner Pope’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2d award), the Navy
Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Gunner Pope is married to the former Erika Marie Jarvis of Fairfax, VA. They now live in Stafford,
VA and have two children: Vivian 19 and Joshua 16.
GUNNER VINCENT S. POPE
6. COLONEL P. C. FARNUM
Colonel Farnum was born in Des Moines, Iowa and enlisted into the
Marine Corps Reserve in 1988. He attended Basic Training at
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California and served from
1989-1993 with General Support Maintenance Company, 4th
Maintenance Battalion, Rock Island, Illinois as a Maintenance
Management Specialist.
He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1993 and was
commissioned a second lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders
Course Program. In 1994 he completed the Basic School and
Infantry Officers Course and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th
Marines at Camp Pendleton, California. Redesignated 2nd Battalion,
1st Marines he served as a rifle platoon commander and deployed
with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in June of 1995.
He was then assigned as the Executive Officer for Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in
December of 1995 and deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in March of 1997.
From 1997-2000, he served as a Public Affairs Officer aboard Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station
New River, North Carolina.
Colonel Farnum graduated from Amphibious Warfare School as a distinguished graduate in 2001 and was
assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines where he served as the Weapons Company Commander participating
in Operation Iraqi Freedom I. In 2004, he was assigned as the Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines
and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Upon graduation of Marine Corps Command and Staff College as a distinguished graduate in 2005, he was
assigned as the Commanding Officer, Advanced Infantry Training Company, School of Infantry, Camp
Pendleton, California.
Transferred in November 2007, he was assigned as the Operations Officer, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
and deployed in May 2008. In November 2009, he was re-assigned to the 1st Marine Division as the Current
Operations Officer until May 2010. From May 2010 to August 2011, he served as the Commanding Officer
of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and deployed with the 31st MEU, participating in Operation Tomadachi.
From August 2011 until July 2012, Colonel Farnum served as the Commanding Officer, 5th Marines (Rear).
From July 2012 until July 2014, he served as the Executive Officer, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
After returning from deployment in 2014, he attended the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National
Security and Resource Strategy where he earned his M.S. in National Resource Strategy with a
concentration in Long-term Strategy. Colonel Farnum most recently served as a Senior Military Fellow at
the Center For Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Colonel Farnum is currently the
Commanding Officer of Weapons Training Battalion. He is married to the former Cynthia Callahan of
Kalamazoo, Michigan and has one child.
11. Quantico, Virginia
MARINES’ HYMN
FROM THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA,
TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI;
WE FIGHT OUR COUNTRY'S BATTLES
IN THE AIR, ON LAND, AND SEA;
FIRST TO FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FREEDOM
AND TO KEEP OUR HONOR CLEAN:
WE ARE PROUD TO CLAIM THE TITLE
OF UNITED STATES MARINE.
OUR FLAG'S UNFURLED TO EVERY BREEZE
FROM DAWN TO SETTING SUN;
WE HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY CLIME AND PLACE
WHERE WE COULD TAKE A GUN;
IN THE SNOW OF FAR-OFF NORTHERN LANDS
AND IN SUNNY TROPIC SCENES;
YOU WILL FIND US ALWAYS ON THE JOB
THE UNITED STATES MARINES.
HERE'S HEALTH TO YOU AND TO OUR CORPS
WHICH WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE;
IN MANY A STRIFE WE'VE FOUGHT FOR LIFE
AND NEVER LOST OUR NERVE;
IF THE ARMY AND THE NAVY
EVER LOOK ON HEAVEN'S SCENES;
THEY WILL FIND THE STREETS ARE GUARDED
BY THE UNITED STATES MARINES
