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Women Marines in Combat: A History and Personal Account

Joseph Foster

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Published in Hesitation Kills: A Female Marine Officer S Combat Experience In Iraq

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Women have served in the United States Marine Corps since 1918, but it was not until 2013 that they were first allowed to serve in combat roles. This article explores the history of women in the Marine Corps, and provides a personal account from a female Marine officer who served in Iraq.

History of Women in the Marine Corps

The first women to serve in the Marine Corps were a group of 305 women who were recruited in 1918 to serve as clerical workers and telephone operators during World War I. These women were known as the "Marinettes" and they played a vital role in supporting the war effort.

Hesitation Kills: A Female Marine Officer's Combat Experience in Iraq

by Jane Blair

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8994 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	296 pages

After the war, the Marinettes were discharged from the Marine Corps, but women continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve. In 1942, the Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established, and women were allowed to serve in a variety of non-combat roles, including as drivers, mechanics, and communications specialists.

During the Vietnam War, women served in a variety of support roles, but they were not allowed to serve in combat. In 1993, the Department of Defense lifted the ban on women serving in combat roles, but the Marine Corps did not immediately implement the change.

In 2013, the Marine Corps finally opened all combat roles to women. This decision was met with some controversy, but it was ultimately supported by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos.

Today, women serve in all combat roles in the Marine Corps, and they have proven to be just as capable as their male counterparts.

Personal Account from a Female Marine Officer

Captain Sarah Deal was one of the first women to serve in a combat role in the Marine Corps. She deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a platoon commander in an infantry battalion.

Captain Deal's platoon was responsible for conducting security patrols and combat operations in the city of Fallujah. She and her Marines faced constant danger from enemy fire and improvised explosive devices.

Despite the challenges, Captain Deal and her Marines persevered. They successfully completed their mission and returned home safely.

Captain Deal's story is a testament to the courage and resilience of women in the Marine Corps. It is also a reminder of the important role that women play in the defense of our nation.

Women have served in the Marine Corps with distinction for over a century. They have proven their courage, resilience, and dedication to the Corps. Today, women serve in all combat roles in the Marine Corps, and they are an essential part of the team.

Hesitation Kills: A Female Marine Officer's Combat Experience in Iraq

by Jane Blair

4.5 out of 5