Women in the Marine Corps celebrate 89 years of service

03.09.2007

Story by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Juan Alfonso
III MEF PAO

For almost a century, women have been an integral part of the U.S. Marine Corps. Their role has changed significantly since 1918 when women were allowed to join the Corps.

Today's female Marine has more opportunities than she did back then. What began as a Corps of non-deployable reservists who served as secretaries, cooks or nurses is now a part of the regular Marine Corps serving in almost all occupations.

Their history began in 1918 when Opha Mae Johnson, the woman credited as being the first female Marine, was accepted into the Marine Corps Reserves. Twenty-three years later, Capt. Anne Lentz became the first female commissioned officer and Pvt. Lucille McClarren became the first female active duty Marine.

Since then, women have climbed through the ranks and earned their position in previously unattainable occupational fields. In 1996, Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter made history by becoming the first female Marine and second woman in military history to earn the rank of lieutenant general.

Today, female Marines serve in 93 percent of all military occupational fields, according to the Woman Marine Association's official Web site.

Female Marines have gone through more than their share of hardships on the road to proving their place in the Corps, said 1st Lt. Veronica L. ConnollyMcDowell, the training officer for Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 3rd Marine Logistics Group. But their accomplishments have not been in vain.

"There isn't a rear area anymore," said ConnollyMcDowell, who served as a convoy commander in Iraq. "When I went to boot camp, the drill instructors always told us, 'Don't expect to be treated any differently than male Marines.' They were right. When I was enlisted, I went to field operations and deployed just as frequently as any male. It wasn't about who was male or female; it was about being Marines."

Some Marines remember a time when females weren't expected to deploy at all, much less find themselves fighting alongside male Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Women in the Marine Corps have stepped up and taken the lead by volunteering for billets and being much more aggressive than in the past," said 1st Sgt. Suzie M. Hollings, the company first sergeant for A Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler. "When I was a lance corporal, they weren't asking for female Marines to be stationed with division or (force service support group) units. It wasn't our role to deploy. Today, a female lance corporal is no different than a male lance corporal. I've seen some amazing things from female Marines, and it's only going to get better with time."

For many female Marines, being a Marine has nothing to do with gender. It is a calling to serve - something that transcends gender or racial differences. It's about pride and service to country.

• Date Taken: 03.09.2007
• Date Posted: 03.08.2007 18:21
• Story ID: 9360