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NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE KINGS BAY, Ga. — Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay celebrated a change of command Friday.
Cmdr. Kevin Jones relieved Cmdr. Stephen Love as commanding officer of Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay during a formal change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
The relief was somewhat unique because Jones and Love replaced each other as commanding officer of their previous units.
Jones reported to MFPU Kings Bay from Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown, Virginia, where he served as the boat forces and cutter operations chief, and Love left MFPU Kings Bay to fill Jones’ position.
"In my 30 years of service, I've never been on a better base," Love said, while thanking various officers he served alongside during his time at the submarine base. "The folks here are phenomenal and motivate me every day."
Love also thanked members of the community, reflecting on how the locals welcomed him and his family from the day they arrived.
"Every day in Camden County is Military Appreciation Day," he said. "I've never been to a community like this. It's unbelievable."
Jones said he was honored and humbled to have the unique opportunity to command such an impressive Coast Guard unit.
Rear Adm. Jake Korn, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, served as the ceremony’s presiding official.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that formally restates to the assembled crew that the continuity of the command will be maintained. The ceremony marks the transfer of total responsibility, authority, and accountability for the unit and the accomplishment of its assigned mission and culminates when both officers read their orders, face one another, salute and transfer responsibility of command.
Coast Guard Marine Force Protection Unit Kings Bay is responsible for providing dedicated force protection to the Navy’s submarine fleet as they transit in and out of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.