Female general takes over Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

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Staff report

Brig. Gen. Angela Salinas became the first woman to command Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in an Aug. 4 ceremony. —

The first woman to head Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego took command today. Brig. Gen. Angela Salinas, who has 32 years in service, took the reins from Maj. Gen. John Paxton Jr., who was named commander of the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 1st Marine Division and received his third star today.

The depot graduates thousands of Marines from recruit training each year; however, there are no female Marines among them. Women who enlist in the Corps train at MCRD Parris Island, S.C., while men train at both depots.

Salinas began her career as an enlisted legal services clerk in 1974 following boot camp at Parris Island; she was commissioned in 1977. She served as the chief of staff for Marine Corps Recruiting Command in Quantico, Va., from 2004 until her assignment in San Diego.