Changing roles: Incoming, outgoing MCLB-Albany sergeants major discuss future plans

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE-ALBANY – When his retirement becomes official in about four months, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Chad Coston has no intention of just fading away.

Following a recent relief and appointment ceremony at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Coston passed the ceremonial sword to his replacement in Albany, Sgt. Maj. Frank Kammer Jr. The sergeant major is the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer at the base.

Afterward Coston, a native of Louisiana who enlisted in June 1994, outlined some of his plans for life after three decades spent serving his country.

During his assignment to MCLB-Albany, Coston played a role in promoting SkillBridge at Albany Technical College. Albany Tech recently was approved as a provider of the program that allows service members to gain civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships during the last 180 days of service.

“(There are) 15,000 veterans we know in southwest Georgia,” Coston said. “Getting that center here in southwest Georgia, having that contact, having a face-to-face person, pays huge dividends. As a service member, we have the discipline, the esprit de corps, the work ethic.

“A lot of employers look for some certificate; even though (military personnel) have skill sets, sometimes they want to see that piece of paper.”

Coston himself is heading to Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins, where he will attend classes for an HVAC certificate through the SkillBridge program.

The retiring master sergeant said he also hopes to make use of his lifelong love of the woods and hunting in the next chapter of his life. His ultimate goal is a job with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

“Upon graduation, I hope to be in the Game Warden Academy,” he said. “That’s my (goal) in life.”

For his part, Kammer said he intends to continue the work with SkillBridge, “and go further.”

“What we want to do is bring in people from other states,” he said. “We see the benefits once Marines get that certificate and can make that money. We just want to continue to push that forward.”

As the sergeant major at MCLB-Albany, Kammer said he sees his role as assisting and advising the base commander, Col. Matthew McKinney. He also will be in charge of quality-of-life issues and discipline, he said.

Kammer is a familiar face to McKinney. The two spent an extended period of time aboard the USS Oak Hill, a naval loading ship dock, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The only way to keep everyone safe was no one gets on, no one gets off,” Kammer said.

That experience should go a long way toward building a relationship between the two, the new sergeant major said, as he assumes his new role.

“We should start off on a good footing, as a commander and sergeant major would normally take six or seven months to establish that relationship,” Kammer said.

Since his arrival in Albany, Kammer said, he is enjoying the hospitality of southwest Georgia.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “(They have) really reached a hand out to help me settle in.”

Special Photo: MCLB-AlbanyStaff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]