MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Rear Adm. Mark L. Tidd, chaplain of the Marine Corps and deputy chief of Navy chaplains, visited the station here Oct. 1 during his tour to various Pacific Navy and Marine Corps installations to understand and meet the needs of service and community members here.
“Most of my time, serving with Marines, has been at 2nd Marine Division deploying out of Camp Lejeune,” said Tidd. “It has been a long time since I have been in the Pacific region, so I specifically wanted to come to the Pacific for my first major trip to hear how things are going out here and see what are the specific challenges that they face and also to see how it’s changed in the past 20 to 25 years.”
Tidd said the commandant of the Marine Corps is deeply concerned with the welfare of his Marines and sailors all around the world, and the commandant has asked him to see how they are doing.
“I had the privilege of serving as his battalion chaplain when he was a battalion commander a number of years ago, and he told me then, ‘Get muddy, get sweaty, go see my Marines and sailors,’” said Tidd. “When he promoted me in August, he said the same thing to me. So I’m carrying out my commander’s intent.”
Before arriving here, Tidd visited Marines and sailors stationed in Hawaii and Okinawa.
To understand how station life here was different from Hawaiian and Okinawan stations, Tidd had a religious ministries team brief with the chaplains, visited Machiko Hamamoto, affectionately known as Mama-san, and had an in-call with Col. Stephen G. Nitzchke, Marine Aircraft Group 12 commanding officer here.
Tidd also had an in-call with Col. Michael A. O’Halloran, station commanding officer, visited Marines and sailors in the Branch Health Clinic here, and spoke with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 service members here.
“Each place I go has its own unique characteristics, its own unique opportunities as well as challenges,” said Tidd. “Iwakuni, compared to Okinawa, has a little bit more of a small-town feel to it, and for some people, that’s very familiar to them because perhaps they grew up in a small environment. For other folks, maybe that’s a bit of a transition and they’re not quite accustomed to the small-town dynamics.”
Tidd said the station’s small-town feel makes it easier for the community to come together and help each other out when things get tough for an individual far away from home.
Suicide in the military was among one of the many topics discussed during his visit.
“The Marine Corps is concerned about suicide,” said Tidd. “It wants to do everything it can to help our people recognize that suicide is a permanent answer to a temporary problem. We need to continue to work with all of our leaders at all levels to ensure our Marines and sailors recognize that’s not the solution.”
It’s also important for the community to recognize that as peers they have a great role to play in helping each other to recognize that there are better options than suicide, Tidd said.
Tidd said he is appreciative of the efforts the community and service members take in carrying out the station’s mission despite facing the daily challenges of being so far away from home.
“Iwakuni has a tremendous mission in this part of the world, both in terms of our global missions as well as our regional missions,” said Tidd.
Tidd was promoted as the 17th chaplain of the Marine Corps and deputy chief of Navy chaplains in August 2009.
He has deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with one gold star, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with three gold stars.
Lt. Cmdr. Denis Cox, Marine Aircraft Group 12 chaplain here, had the opportunity to escort Tidd around the station to his various appointments.
Cox said while some chaplains are either technically or tactfully proficient, Tidd has a great combination of both.
“He’s going to be very good for the chaplain corps,” said Cox.
After leaving the station, Tidd continued his tour of Pacific Navy and Marine Corps installations at Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan.