MARCH - Women History Month: For many years -- too many to count -- women of all ethnicities, religious belief, political preferences, country of origin have fought very hard to be where they are today. In the Marine Corps we celebrate our history, thats why we would like to recognize all women in our beloved Corps, Oorah. The history of Women in the Marine Corps dates back to1918, when the Secretary of Navy allowed women to enroll for clerical duty in the Marine Corps. Officially, Opha Mae Johnson is credited as the first woman Marine. Johnson enrolled for service on August 13, 1918; during that year some 300 women first entered the Marine Corps to take over stateside clerical duties from battle-ready Marines who were needed overseas. The Marine Corps Womens Reserve was established in February 1943. June 12th, 1948, Congress passed the Womens Armed Services Integration Act and made women a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps. In 1950, the Women Reserves were mobilized for the Korean War and 2,787 women served proudly. By the height of the Vietnam War, there were about 2,700 women Marines who served both stateside and overseas. By 1975, the Corps approved the assignment of women to all occupational fields except infantry, artillery, armor and pilot/air crew. Over 1,000 women Marines were deployed in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991. According to the 2012 demographic report women make up 7.11% of the Marine Corps. They are integrated into nearly all Military Occupational Specialties with the exception of offensive combat. They serve globally and proudly carry on the traditions of those first trailblazers as they continue to open doors for future Marines to follow. womenmarines.org/wm_history.aspx For many years -- too many to count -- women of all ethnicities, religious belief, political preferences, country of origin have fought very hard to be where they are today. In the Marine Corps we c elebrate our history, thats why we would like to recognize all women in our beloved Corps, Oorah. The history of Women in the Marine Corps dates back to1918, when the Secretary of Navy allowed women to enroll for clerical duty in the Marine Corps. Officially, Opha Mae Johnson is credited as the first woman Marine. Johnson enrolled for service on August 13, 1918; during that year some 300 women first entered the Marine Corps to take over stateside clerical duties from battle-ready Marines who were needed overseas. The Marine Corps Womens Reserve was established in February 1943. June 12th, 1948, Congress passed the Womens Armed Services Integration Act and made women a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps. In 1950, the Women Reserves were mobilized for the Korean War and 2,787 women served proudly. By the height of the Vietnam War, there were about 2,700 women Marines who served both stateside and overseas. By 1975, the Corps approved the assignment of women to all occupational fields except infantry, artillery, armor and pilot/air crew. Over 1,000 women Marines were deployed in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991. According to the 2012 demographic report women make up 7.11% of the Marine Corps. They are integrated into nearly all Military Occupational Specialties with the exception of offensive combat. They serve globally and proudly carry on the traditions of those first trailblazers as they continue to open doors for future Marines to follow. womenmarines.org/wm_history.aspx
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:18:29 +0000
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