inspecting the training is the new commanding general, lori reynolds. >> i was the guy on the bottom.m. >> reporter: brigadier general reynolds is the first woman to head paris island and says he is humble to command the marines who volunteer during wartime. >> those are americans and we owe it to their families to take care of them. >> reporter: she served in afghanistan as the first female marine to become a lead commander in a battle zone. of the 200,000 marines around the world, nearly 14,000 are women. and many see general reynolds as a role model. >> i believe it would empower them to believe more in their capabilities. >> reporter: the marines is a performance-based culture, for men and women. >> for men and women out there, they should never say never, keep pushing, keep challenging yourself. >> reporter: at a graduation ceremony today, she was on hand to meet the parents. >> you're the mom? >> reporter: and to honor the new marines, all of whom she's extremely proud. mark potter, nbc news, paris island. >>> also tonight perhaps you heard about the terrible tragedy at the texa

>> reporter: inspecting the training is the new commanding general, lori reynolds. >> i was the guy on>> yes, ma'am. >> reporter: brigadier general reynolds is the first woman to head paris island and says she is humbled to command the recruits who volunteer during war-time. >> for us it's not just a name on a page or another uniform, those are young americans and we owe it to their families to take good care of them. >> reporter: before coming here, general reynolds already made history in afghanistan, by serving there as the first female marine to become a lead commander in a battle zone. of the 200,000 marines around the world, nearly 14,000 are women. and many see general reynolds as a role model. >> i believe it would empower them to believe more in themselves and their capabilities. >> reporter: reynolds says her promotion tells a lot about the marines, being a performance-based culture for men and women. >> for young women out there, they should just never say never, keep pushing, keep challenging yourself. >> reporter: at a graduation ceremony today, she was on hand to meet the