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Sergeant Maj. Craig D. Cressman, the outgoing sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, chats Lance Cpl. Christopher Fouts, a data network specialist with II MHG, following a relief and appointment ceremony at Camp Lejeune, Aug. 2. Cressman has spent nearly two years as the command's senior enlisted advisor during which they deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as Task Force Belleau Wood in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He will be taking over the duties as the sergeant major of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall located in Washington D.C.

Photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

II MHG receives new sergeant major

6 Aug 2012 | Cpl. Bryan Nygaard II Marine Expeditionary Force

Sgt. Maj. Craig D. Cressman relinquished his post as sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group to Sgt. Maj. Joseph D. Shaw during a ceremony held at Marston Pavilion on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 2.

During the ceremony, Col. James B. Stopa, the newly appointed commanding officer of II MHG, remarked on the brief yet rewarding time he has served alongside Cressman.

“He’s firm, fair, involved, genuine, concerned,” said Stopa. “He’s a Marine’s Marine. He truly cares for each and every Marine, sailor and civilian within the organization.”

Cressman, a career infantry Marine with 28 years of service, has deployed on multiple combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, served two tours on the drill field, been an instructor at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia and has also served in Marine Corps Security Forces. He has spent nearly two years as the command’s senior enlisted advisor during which they deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as Task Force Belleau Wood in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From Feb. 2011 to Feb. 2012, the command functioned as an administrative and operational command that was responsible for base operations on Camp Leatherneck as well as a battlespace that covered 400 square kilometers.

Cressman repeatedly expressed how grateful he was to have served with the Marines of II MHG throughout the past two years.

“One of the greatest units I’ve ever served with in almost 28 years,” said Cressman. “By far one of the best tours I’ve had. I couldn’t be more proud. Throughout that two year span, I challenged them, I educated them the best I could, I kicked them in the butt every once in a while and I consoled them when I needed to. I couldn’t be more proud of the NCO’s and the Marines within MHG.”

Cressman was recently hand-picked by Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, to take over the duties as the sergeant major of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall located in Washington, D.C.

His replacement, Shaw, is also a career infantry Marine with multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. He recently served as the sergeant major of 2nd Marine Division (Forward) while it deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan as Task Force Leatherneck.