Celebrating 100 years of Women in the Marine Corps

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kelcey Seymour | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – Gunnery Sgt. Jaimie Perdue speaks during a Women’s Centennial Brunch Aug. 10 at the Palms on Camp Hansen. The brunch celebrated 100 years of women serving in the Marine Corps. Guest speakers gave accounts of their personal histories and expressed hope for the future of female Marines. Perdue is a radio chief with 7th Communication Battalion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kelcey Seymour)  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.10.2018

Story by Lance Cpl. Kelcey Seymour 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – Marines with 7th Communication Battalion hosted a Women’s Centennial Brunch Aug. 10 at the Palms on Camp Hansen.

The brunch served as an opportunity for all Marines to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of women serving in the Marine Corps.

“I am a Marine first and a woman after,” said Gunnery Sgt. Cheryl Mills, a plans chief for Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. “I earned my title and I do my job just like everyone else.”

Women make up about 9 percent of the Marine Corps. Since admittance, females have continued to expand throughout the Corps. Year after year women Marines achieve new firsts; from Pvt. Opha May Johnson becoming the first female Marine in 1918 to 1st Lt. Marina Hierl who became the first woman to graduate from the infantry officer course and assigned command of an infantry platoon in 2018.

“We celebrate our past and all the women who have paved the way for us today,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jaimie Perdue a radio chief with 7th Communication Battalion. “We also celebrate for the future. Our females who are just starting off now are the Corps’ future. You all are our future instructors, pilots, infantry and maybe even our first female Commandant of the Marine Corps.”

• Date Taken: 08.10.2018
• Date Posted: 08.13.2018 19:34
• Story ID: 288418
• Location: OKINAWA, JP