Army Gen. Raymond A. "Tony" Thomas today assumed command of U.S. Special Operations Command from outgoing commander Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel in a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
"I am humbled and excited to serve as your commander," Thomas told the audience at the change-of-command ceremony. The Socom commander is charged with leading a force whose core activities include hostage rescue, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and counterinsurgency.
"Special operations currently enjoys an extraordinary reputation and great respect from the American people, borne by decades of legendary service -- especially the endeavors of the past 15 years of continuous combat as well as tremendously impactful activities in other phases of conflict around the globe," he said.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford welcomed Thomas during the ceremony.
Both Thomas and Votel -- who assumed command of U.S. Central Command in a ceremony following the Socom ceremony -- are exceptional, highly skilled leaders with extensive experience in combat and special operations, Carter and Dunford said in their respective remarks.
"As we transfer leadership of this command between these two professionals, these two consummate warriors and two soldier statesmen, we also celebrate a certain continuity," Carter said.
"Today we honor two true pioneers in our military," the defense secretary said.
Socom "simply delivers, whatever the task and regardless of the conditions," Dunford said.
"While we're saying goodbye to a great commander, this special operations bench is deep, and we’ve got the good fortune to have another exceptional leader taking command," the chairman added.
Challenges Ahead
Votel said Socom will continue to face global challenges in a myriad of areas.
"As we gather here today, over 10,000 [special operations forces] men and women are deployed or forward stationed in over 80 countries around the world," he said.
"The road does not get much easier from here," Votel said. "We will continue to face significant challenges in nearly every turn," including a "virulent strain of terrorism that the world has not previously experienced."
The general noted other challenges, such as "old enemies reasserting themselves in new ways, rising powers challenging our influence and interests, deep sectarian divides that crisscross our national objectives, provocative leaders controlling the most destructive weapons, and humanitarian and social situations that challenge the existing order."
The men and women of Socom do the hardest jobs with no notice or fanfare, he said. Those forces represent the "quiet professionalism that is our ethos, our culture and our beacon when the going gets tough," Votel said.
"To the men and women of Socom, I owe you a great debt that I [am] afraid I can never repay," he said.
The command has about 70,000 military and civilian members. The command's other core activities, according to its website, include special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, civil affairs operations, security force assistance, and foreign humanitarian assistance.
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