2015 wrap up: Henderson Hall and Fort McNair

By Guv Callahan, Pentagram Staff WriterJanuary 7, 2016

2015 wrap up: Henderson Hall and Fort McNair
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pictured here, a new temporary fire station was constructed at the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in September 2015, adding new fire response capabilities to that portion of the joint base. The interim station will house two fi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2015 wrap up: Henderson Hall and Fort McNair
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students from Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington, Va., were hosted by the Marines Dec. 7, 2015, at the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Many of the students met with St. Nick and confessed ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2015 wrap up: Henderson Hall and Fort McNair
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green, left, saluting, relieves Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, right, facing camera, during the sergeant major of the Marine Corps relief and appointment ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., Feb. 20. Green s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - The United States Marine Corps had a banner year in 2015, on both national and local levels. It was a year of important birthdays, significant leadership changes and selfless service to the nation.

In the same year that the Corps turned 240 years old, it also saw its newly appointed leader, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, then-commandant of the Marine Corps, take over from retired U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military rank in the United States.

Furthermore, the new sergeant major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green, assumed his current post in February. Green served as Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall battalion sergeant major from 2008 to 2010. Green took his post during a ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington.

The Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall also hosted a change of command and retirement ceremony this year, albeit one a bit closer to home. Col. Andrew M. Regan assumed command of Headquarters & Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall from retiring Col. Anthony S. Barnes during a ceremony on sunny day in July.

After a couple of months into his new command, Regan told the Pentagram he was impressed with the caliber of the men and women serving with him.

"I see a bunch of dedicated Marines who just want to do their job, but at the same time grow professionally and embrace the institution," Regan said in a September Pentagram article by staff writer Julia LeDoux.

Regan took command of the battalion just months after Headquarters Command Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Robert W. Pullen replaced retired Sgt. Maj. Craig Cressman as the battalion's top senior enlisted adviser last April.

Henderson Hall Marines also continued their more than 35 years of service to local students at Barcroft Elementary School, through mentoring services in the newly named Mentoring Millennials Program and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Single Marine Program, which was founded in 1995 as a means to "foster camaraderie and a close-knit community amongst single and unaccompanied Marines."

Meanwhile, on Fort McNair

Fort McNair also saw its share of noteworthy events this year, including environmental upgrades expected to save thousands of dollars in energy costs, changes in command and more.

Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker took command of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, stationed on the Fort McNair portion of the joint base, from Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan during a change of command ceremony in June.

"It's been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve in your ranks, and to Brad Becker, hold on to your hat brother, you are in for quite a ride. But I guarantee that you're going to have a blast," said outgoing Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan during remarks, according to an article by George Markfelder, JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public Affairs.

Elsewhere on McNair, members of MDW's Special Reaction Team were evaluated and validated during an active shooter exercise last January.

MDW SRT comprises members from the Department of Army Police, 289th Military Police Company, and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), who are supported by bomb technicians from the 55th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company and K-9 teams from the 947th and 241st Military Police detachments.

A new temporary fire station was also built on the Fort McNair potion of the joint base in September, meant to serve the JBM-HH Fire Department until a new, permanent fire station can be constructed. The large tent structure was installed on the basketball court between 4th and 5th Avenues, next to historic quarters 28 and a parking lot.

The station is 36-feet wide, 40-feet long and 23-feet high, and designed to house two fire trucks - a pumper and P19 crash truck.