Retired Gen. Carl Mundy, the 30th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, addressed students and faculty at the Lowder Business building last Thursday.
Mundy spoke about the nation's armed forces and national security.
The event was hosted by the Auburn University Mariners.
The Mariners is a campus organization thats mission is to aid in the advancement of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and support the purposes, traditions and concepts of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. It is the official host group for the marine and NROTC.
Katie Werner, senior in communication disorders and member of the Auburn University Mariners, said she enjoyed Mundy's speech.
"He was a very interesting speaker and we were very lucky to have him come," Werner said. "He has done so much for our country."
Werner said she found Mundy's speech informative.
"I didn't know about the different parts of the armed forces, so it was interesting to hear the information that he knows."
Werner is a member of the Auburn University Mariners.
Mundy's service to the country began in December 1953, just after his first semester as an Auburn University student. Mundy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the Platoon Leaders Class Program and served in the 38th Special Infantry Company in Montgomery as sergeant.
Following graduation from Auburn, Mundy was commissioned to second lieutenant in June 1957.
He followed up his military education at the Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College.
After college, Mundy was assigned to the 2nd Marine Regiment in the 2nd Marine Division. He served on the USS Tarawa (CV-40) and the USS Little Rock (CG-4).
Following his duty aboard the USS aircraft carriers, Mundy served in Vietnam.
From 1966 to 1967, Mundy worked as the executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines in the 3rd Marine Division.
He also served as the intelligence officer in the III Marine Amphibious Force headquarters.
Mundy was assigned commandant, which is the Marine Corp's highest ranking officer. As commandant, he relayed information to the U.S. President, Secretary of Defense, Congress and Secretary of the Navy.
Commandant's other responsibilities include recruiting, training, organizing, equipping, managing and leading the active and reserve Marines.
Mundy said there are a total of 202,000 active duty marines and 40,000 reserve Marines.
Mundy retired in 1995, after serving 42 years in the Marines. From 1996 to 2000 Mundy held the position of president and chief executive officer of worldwide operations of the United Service Organizations (USO).
He earned 17 personal decorations and 10 unit and general service awards for his military service.
Some of the most prestigious awards he received include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Mundy explained each of the armed forces branches which include the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and the Air Force.
"There are about 1.4 million active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces," Mundy said. "These men and women are the critical element in executing the national military strategy."
Mundy said the armed forces are critical in executing the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy.
Gunnery Sgt. Walter Ramos, AMOI for the Auburn NROTC, explained the training one must go through to become a Marine.
"If you enlist in the Marines, you must go through 13 weeks of recruitment training and then get your degree," Ramos said. "If you don't enlist, the requirements are different."
Maj. Jeff Dyal, the MOI for the Auburn NROTC, clarified the ranking process of naval officers.
"You must meet the performance requirements," Dyal said. "You go through a board process and are evaluated based on your performance at each level."
Dyal said it takes several years to move up in rank.
Mundy went through years of evaluation to earn the position of commandant.
The Auburn NROTC will have a second speaker in December.
The event will be open to the public.
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