New general to command Parris Island
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jul 17, 2009 7:46:26 EDT

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — A new commanding general has been chosen to take over the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot in South Carolina.

Marine Corps officials say Brig. Gen. Frederick Padilla will take charge of the elite training site at Parris Island in August.

The current commander, Brig. Gen. James Laster, is slated to take command of the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan.

Laster also will hand over responsibility to Padilla for the service's Eastern Recruiting Region. That command is based at Parris Island and oversees all Marine recruiting east of the Mississippi River.

Parris Island graduates about 20,000 newly trained Marines every year.

Ellie