Wheeling native Marine Brig. Gen. Austin “Sparky” Renforth, second from right, is the commanding general at Parris Island, S.C., and of the eastern recruiting region for the Marines. He joins other command members to lead a motivational run with new recruits around Parris Island prior to their graduation from boot camp.
WHEELING, W.Va. — More than 19,000 Marines graduate each year from boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., and their training and molding as soldiers is now the duty and responsibility of a Wheeling native, Brig. Gen. Austin“Sparky” Renforth.
Renforth — himself a Marine for more than 34 years — was appointed commanding general at Parris Island in June, and the job also makes him the commanding general of the Marines’ eastern recruiting region. He previously served as commanding general of the Marine Corps Training Command at Quantico, Va.
All male recruits on the eastern side of the United States go to boot camp at Parris Island, as do all female recruits from across America.
Renforth regularly takes a motivational run each Thursday with recruits about to graduate…