He was assigned as the Principal Director for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism in 2001, then as chief of staff and director of the Center for Command Support in 2002. He was next assigned as deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, which holds a secondary billet as commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, both headquartered at Camp Pendleton, in July 2004 until late 2005. With that unit, Hejlik was involved in preparing the counter-insurgency efforts during the United States occupation of Fallujah.[3]
Hejlik as MARSOC commander
Hejlik was named the first commander of the Marine Special Operations Command. The command was first announced on November 1, 2005, becoming the first Special Operations Command unit of the Marine Corps. Hejlik was a vocal supporter of the new command, which opponents claim detracts from the Corps' status and reputation as an all-elite force. Proponents, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, claim special operations units, to include Marines, are essential in the War on Terrorism.[4]
^Senzarino, Peggy, "In the thick of it: Garner native among top brass at Iraqi hot spot" (PDF), Globe Gazette (Mason City/Clear Lake, Iowa), January 7, 2005, p. A1.
^. Archived from the original on 2001-08-30. Retrieved 2006-02-19.
^U.S. Congress (16 March 2006). "Confirmations". Congressional Record. 152 (34): S2394–5. Retrieved 2006-05-18.
^"Obama Nominates MarForCom Commander". Marine Corps Times. April 19, 2010. p. 7.
External links
January 06, 2023
dennis, hejlik, dennis, hejlik, retired, usmc, lieutenant, general, hejlik, previously, served, commanding, general, united, states, marine, corps, forces, europe, united, states, marine, corps, forces, command, until, early, 2008, hejlik, commanded, newly, es. Dennis J Hejlik is a retired USMC Lieutenant General Hejlik previously served as commanding general of United States Marine Corps Forces Europe and United States Marine Corps Forces Command Until early 2008 Hejlik commanded the newly established Marine Special Operations Command Dennis HejlikLieutenant General Dennis J HejlikAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States Marine CorpsYears of service1968 1972 enlisted 1975 2012 officer RankLieutenant generalCommands held1st Battalion 2nd MarinesMarine Barracks Washington D C Marine Forces Special Operations Command MARSOC 2nd Marine Expeditionary ForceMarine Forces Command MARFORCOM United States Marine Corps Forces EuropeBattles warsOperation Desert StormOperation Iraqi FreedomAwardsDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit Contents 1 Military career 2 Awards and decorations 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksMilitary career EditHejlik a native of Garner Iowa 1 enlisted in 1968 rising to the rank of sergeant before accepting honorable discharge in 1972 to pursue education He graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato in 1975 returning to the Marines as a mustang second lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class Program As a commissioned officer Hejlik has had commands at the platoon company and battalion brigade and corps levels He has also served as a tactics instructor at the Amphibious Warfare School Hejlik graduated from the Naval War College at Newport Rhode Island in 1993 As a lieutenant colonel Hejlik assumed command of 1st Battalion 2nd Marines The Marine Barracks in Washington DC came under his command in 1997 While there Hejlik barred the Marines under his command from a number of gay bars in the city in an attempt to curb antagonism between Marines and the gay community 2 In 1999 he was appointed as Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps He was assigned as the Principal Director for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism in 2001 then as chief of staff and director of the Center for Command Support in 2002 He was next assigned as deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force which holds a secondary billet as commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade both headquartered at Camp Pendleton in July 2004 until late 2005 With that unit Hejlik was involved in preparing the counter insurgency efforts during the United States occupation of Fallujah 3 Hejlik as MARSOC commander Hejlik was named the first commander of the Marine Special Operations Command The command was first announced on November 1 2005 becoming the first Special Operations Command unit of the Marine Corps Hejlik was a vocal supporter of the new command which opponents claim detracts from the Corps status and reputation as an all elite force Proponents including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld claim special operations units to include Marines are essential in the War on Terrorism 4 Hejlik was confirmed by the Senate for promotion to the rank of major general on March 16 2006 5 He was then nominated for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general on March 13 2008 to become the Commander of the II Marine Expeditionary Force and confirmed for promotion by the Senate on April 29 2008 In April 2010 he was nominated by President Obama to relieve Richard F Natonski as commander of Marine Forces Command 6 Hejlik served as Commanding General II Marine Expeditionary Force Camp Lejeune North Carolina from July 2008 until August 2010 Awards and decorations EditMedals awarded to Hejlik include 1st Row Defense Superior Service Medal w 1 oak leaf cluster Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge2nd Row Legion of Merit w 1 award star Meritorious Service Medal w 2 award stars Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal3rd Row Combat Action Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w 2 service stars4th Row Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal w 2 service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal5th Row Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal6th Row Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w 4 service stars Arctic Service Ribbon Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal Kuwait General Hejlik is also the winner of the Leftwich Trophy See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dennis J Hejlik References Edit This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps Senzarino Peggy In the thick of it Garner native among top brass at Iraqi hot spot PDF Globe Gazette Mason City Clear Lake Iowa January 7 2005 p A1 Article from Capital Style political magazine Archived from the original on 2001 08 30 Retrieved 2006 02 19 Military com article SignOnSanDiego article U S Congress 16 March 2006 Confirmations Congressional Record 152 34 S2394 5 Retrieved 2006 05 18 Obama Nominates MarForCom Commander Marine Corps Times April 19 2010 p 7 External links EditOfficial Marine biography II MEF biography Dennis Hejlik s retirement Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dennis Hejlik amp oldid 1074430870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
