Photo By Sgt. Juan Madrigal | Pfc. Yolanda Vigil after graduating from the Infantry Training Battalion aboard Camp...... read more read more
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Pfc. Yolanda Vigil became one of the few female Marines to become an infantryman. She graduated from the School of Infantry on East Camp Geiger aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 7.
Vigil grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She joined Marine Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in high school for four years. She was a senior in high school when the Marine Corps was accepting females into infantry and showed interest into the career field.
“I did it for the challenge and experience,” said Vigil.
The instructors at Infantry Training Battalion train, develop and certify Marines as riflemen, machine gunners, mortarmen, infantry assaultmen and antitank missilemen in order to provide basically qualified infantrymen for service in the operating forces.
“The training was great, I wasn’t treated differently at all,” said Vigil. “Everything the guys did, I did.”
During the course Marines are taught to use several different weapons such as the M67 Grenade, M203 Grenade Launcher, Claymores, AT-4 Anti-tank Weapon and M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon system. The course also takes Marines in hikes, patrols.
Vigil’s training to become a rifleman consisted of patrolling and live fire exercises.
“She stood out in the beginning,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Hodges, platoon sergeant, Company C ITB. “She showed more initiative compared to some of the other Marines. I made her a squad leader and she held the position for the majority of the class.”
Vigil wasn’t originally supposed to be infantry.
“I actually went in open contract and my senior drill instructor said she would get me the job I wanted if I was in the top ten percent of the company,” said Vigil.
Now Vigil moves onto the fleet Marine forces as a rifleman.
“She had a little trouble physically in the beginning, but after working with her for a little bit we started fixing problems,” said Hodges. “She’s ready to move onto bigger and better things out in the operating forces.”
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2017 08:53 |
| Story ID: | 259788 |
| Location: | NC, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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