A chief with 33 years serving in the , Marines, most just as captain of the , 1st Marine Division , at , Camp Pendleton, is headed to the , East Coast , to guide the Corps ‘ Training and Education Command.
Maj.  , Gen. Benjamin Watson , handed over the reigns of the legendary Blue Diamond section to Maj , Gen. Robert Fulford , during a change of control service at , Camp Pendleton , next year. Fulford most recently served the , 1st Marine Expeditionary Force , at , Camp Pendleton , as its assistant commanding standard.
In the , July 2 , meeting, which included regional community members from towns surrounding the bottom, Watson called his two-year stint leading the team’s  , 20, 000 , Marines , and sailors the “best general official career in the , Marine Corps”.
Serving in the Blue Diamond carries with it a sense of pride that speaks from the secret first course to the main general, according to Watson, the Corps ‘ oldest, largest, and most embellished division. There is nothing quite like it, and you can sense it.
He furthermore highlighted the team’s targets of preparation and development.
The greatest spotlight and challenge has been seeing this team work so hard to strike a balance between the need to be ready to fight today and the need to upgrade our Corps, he said, adding that it is crucial to prepare the troops for unexpected emergencies and to respond to them in an unforeseen crisis.
He was praised for respecting all his , Marines, irrespective of their rates or enrollment levels, and for making the section “focused and ready to battle”.
” He treated everyone the same, whether it was another general officer or a junior Marine” , , Sgt. Maj.  , Matthew Fouss, the lieutenant key of the department, said during the meeting. ” He gave respect and attention to all he engaged with, while even holding all to , Marine Corps , standards and control. He expected nothing less than your best work, as it is critical to the team’s success”.
Among those in attendance was  , Wayne Eggleston, a former San Clemente president who spearheaded the development of , Park Semper Fi , in area. The premises overlooking the ocean just northwest of , San Clemente Pier , host , Marine Corps , and , Navy , events, including a special , Fourth of July , event for active-duty , Marines , and seamen who enjoyed a secret viewing of the state’s fireworks show.
” It’s important for a representative , from San Clemente to go, after all , our adopted , Marine Corps , unit, the 2/5,  , is part of the , 1st Marine Division”, Eggleston said, adding he was impressed by Watson’s speech on what he accomplished with the division during his two-year command.
” The new general is also terrific, and the division will be in great hands”, Eggleston said, adding that he was excited to shake Fulford’s hand and hoped the , close relationship with San Clemente , and the division would continue.
Fulford said he would continue the division’s tradition of excellence and readiness.
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