MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Sgt. Maj. Vincent C. Santiago receives a ceremonial staff noncommissioned officer sword from Lt. Col. Edwin R. Rich, commanding officer, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, at a relief and appointment ceremony, Dec. 6, 2012. Santiago is replacing Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey T. Dixon, as the sergeant major of MALS-24. Dixon, a native of Grifton, N.C., will be transferring to the Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji. “I think this will be bittersweet for me,” Dixon said of his transferring to a billet out of the aviation community. “I grew up as an aviation Marine.” He said he would miss the camaraderie of the squadron leaders as well as the pride and professionalism that the Marines and sailors come to work with every day. The 48-year-old plans to retire from the Marine Corps after his last assignment. Santiago was stationed here in 2004 with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and in 2007 with Combat Service Support Group 3 (now Combat Logistics Battalion 3). The Merizo, Guam native said he put his name in for the position of command sergeant major because he enjoys the aloha spirit and family-oriented culture of the Hawaiian Islands. “It’s definitely great to be back in Hawaii,” Santiago, 41, said. He said he hopes to carry on what the commanding officer and previous sergeant major established, and do whatever he can to expand what’s already built. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong)