CELEBRATING
WOMEN’S ROLE IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY

During World War II, the US called on women to become an even larger part of the Marine Corps. In February 1943, the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was established. On June 12 in the same year, Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act and made women a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps. Since then, women Marines have continually enlisted and transformed Marine Corps history through vast achievements, recognition of valor and honor, and immeasurable accomplishments that showcase their boundless influence.

MILESTONES + HISTORICAL IMPACT

Discover the history of the brave women in the marines by exploring the timeline below.

1918

THE FIRST FEMALE MARINE: OPHA MAY JOHNSON

Pvt Opha May Johnson becomes the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps.

1942

31 Oct: Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox authorized the Marine Corps to create a Women’s Reserve and accept women applicants for commissions and enlistments.

1942

7 Nov: Approval by Commandant Lt General Thomas Holcomb for the formation of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve.

1943

Colonel Ruth Cheney Streeter first Director of Women Marine Reservists.

1943

Captain Anne Lentz, first commissioned officer.

1943

13 Feb: First day that enlistments officially open. Private Lucille McClarren first enlisted woman.

1943

13 Mar: First class of 71 officer candidates enter U.S. Naval Midshipmen’s School at Mt Holyoke, MA to begin training with the WAVES.

1943

26 Mar: First class of 722 enlisted Women Reserves (WR) begins training at the U.S. Naval Training School at Hunter College, the Bronx, NY once again training with the WAVES.

1943

25 Apr: First class of enlisted graduated and report to active duty. Approximately 525 women entered every 2 weeks for courses that averaged about 4 weeks.

1943

4 May: First class of officer candidates graduate and report to duty. Classes averaged about 70 candidates, began every month and lasted about eight weeks.

1943

15 July: Training for enlisted and candidates transferred to Camp Lejeune, NC. All basic training for Women Reserves as well as much of the specialty training is held here throughout the war.

1944

13 Feb: First anniversary of Women’s Reserve. It has grown from four women to nearly 15,000. The WR’s held more than 200 different assignments.

1944

27 Sept: Overseas bill for women in the Naval services signed by the president.

1945

29 Jan : First detachment of five officers and 160 enlisted women Marines arrives in Hawaii for duty.

1945

7 May: V-E Day. Recruiting of WR’s limited to a replacement for normal attrition.

1945

2 Sept: V-J Day. All recruiting stopped and plans for gradual demobilization.

1946

7 Jun: Approval by CMC Women’s Reserve Policy Board recommendation for retention of small number of women on duty to serve as trained nucleus for possible mobilization emergencies.

1946

1 Sept: Original terminal date set for Women’s Reserve. All WR units disbanded and most women returned to civilian life.

1947

17 Mar: USMC – Woman Marine T/Sgt Mary Frances Wancheck of Bobtown, Pennsylvania became the first Woman Marine to rate a “hash mark.” She completed four years of service with the Marines this month.

1948

12 Jun: Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 authorized 100 regular Women Marine officers, 10 warrant officers, and 1,000 enlisted in a gradual build-up over a two year period with regular candidates coming from Reserve Women Marines on active duty or those with prior service not on active duty. (MC Res Hist, pp. 121-122).

1948

4 Nov: First group of three wartime WR officers sworn into the regular Marine Corps.

1948

Colonel Katherine A. Towle first Director of Women Marines.

1948

10 Nov: First eight enlisted women were sworn in as regular Marines.

1949

28 Feb: The 3d Recruit Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island was reactivated for training non-veteran Women Marines.

1949

First black female Marines enlisted. The first African-American woman, Annie E. Graham of Detroit, Michigan, enlisted in the Marines. On the following day, Ann E. Lamb joined at New York City.

1950

Annie L. Grimes of Chicago, who was destined to become a chief warrant officer later in her career, joined and went to boot camp in February 1950. From the beginning, the reception, training, and housing of African-American women Marines was completely integrated.

1950

The evening dress uniform for Marine Corps women officers was introduced for the first time by Colonel Katherine A. Towle at the Marine Corps birthday ball at the Sail Loft, Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D. C.

1951

On the ninth anniversary of the establishment of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, the Lady Leathernecks participated for the first time in color raising ceremonies at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D. C. (ANAF Journal, 16 Feb 1952, p. 735).

1953

Colonel Katherine A. Towle, Director of Women Marines, became the first woman line officer to retire from U. S. military service on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 55.

1953

Lieutenant Colonel Julia E. Hamblet, 36, became the new Director of Women Marines, succeeding Colonel Katherine A. Towle.

1953

Staff Sergeant Barbara Olive Barnwell First female Marine to be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps medal for heroism for saving a fellow Marine from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean in 1952.

1953

Ruth Wood and Lillian Hartley were the first women to enter warrant officer program.

1960

First woman Marine is promoted to E-9 — Master Gunnery Sergeant Geraldine M. Moran.

1961

30 Sept: The first retirement ceremony in the history of the Parris Island Woman Marine Recruit Training Battalion took place when Master Sergeant David J. Dearing retired after 20 years’ service. Sergeant Dearing, as mess sergeant for the Woman Marines, was carried on their rolls as a member of the command.

1961

The first woman Marine is promoted to Sergeant Major (E-9) — Bertha Peters Billeb.

1964

2 Jan: Lieutenant Colonel Barbara J. Bishop succeeds Colonel Margaret M. Henderson as Director of Woman Marines.

1965

The Marine Corps assigns the first woman to attache duty. Later, SSgt Josephine Gebers became the first woman Marine awarded the Combat Action Ribbon. Gebers was an intelligence officer and worked as an administrative assistant to the Air Force attache in Santo Domingo.

1965

Rose Franco the first Hispanic woman promoted to Chief Warrant Officer.

1967

Master Sergeant Barbara Jean Dulinsky first woman Marine to serve in a combat zone in Vietnam. She was assigned to U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam combat operations center in Saigon.

1968

Lieutenant Colonel Jenny Wren was the first woman Marine to attend Command and Staff College.

1970

1stLt Patricia Murphy was named the first woman Marine certified military judge.

1970

CWO2 Annie Grimes became the first African American to retire with 20 years of service.

1972

31 Aug : Lance Corporal Brenda Hockenhull the first Woman Marine graduate a 16-week Test Instrument Repairman Course. She was meritoriously promoted to corporal after finishing the course as class honorman.

1972

LtCol Carolyn Walsh, Commanding Officer of the Women’s Officer School was the first female officer allowed to remain on duty while pregnant.

1972

Major Jane Wallis became the first woman Executive Officer at H&HS Squadron in El Toro.

1972

Lt Catherine A. Kocourek Genovese was the first female battalion adjutant at Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico. She was the first female officer to fire a respectable 301×400 to rate as a sharpshooter. Since it was not authorized for her uniform she wore it under her tie.

1973

SgtMajor Bertha Billup was the first woman Marine to retire with 30 continuous years.

1973

Elizabeth A Aitel, Oboist, first female to join the U. S. Marine band.

1973

Colonel Mary E Bane, the first female to become Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton.

1974

3 Oct: Private First Class Regina T. Musser, first woman Marine tank mechanic.

1974

LCpl Harriet F. Voisine becomes the first female military policewoman.

1974

2nd Lt Debra J Baughman first female officer in the military police field.

1974

Capt Shirley Bowen first female to graduate from the 34 week Advanced Communication Officer Course.

1974

Woman Officer School integrated into male companies. 1st Lt Catherine A. Kocourek Genovese first female officer to design and teach her own course of instruction.

1974

Disestablishment of the position of Sergeant Major of Women Marines.

1975

Technical Sergeant Helen Hannah was recalled to active reserves in 1947 for 6 mos and continued to serve as a reservist until she retired with 32 years.

1975

First female instructor at the Personnel and Administration School in Quantico, Karen Pressler.

1975

1st Lt Diane S George was the first female to be assigned to inspector-instructor staff of a all reserve male unit.

1975

PFC Cathy Smith is the first female to attend the water supply and plumbing course at Camp Lejeune.

1975

1stSgt Margaret Reiber was the first female to integrate an all-male security force at Camp Lejeune.

1976

March: WRTBn becomes Women Recruit Training Command

1976

Pvt Beth Ann Fraser was the first female Marine to attend Army Airborne School at Ft Benning, GA.

1977

PFC Katie Dixon becomes the first female jet mechanic.

1977

Rhonda LeBrescu Amtower was the first enlisted woman Marine to attend and graduate the Defense Language Institute where she studied Mandarin Chinese.

1977

GySgt Mary Vaughn was the first African American to become a Warrant Officer.

1977

Nancy Anderson became the first female platoon commander when the Marine Corps’ Officer Candidates School at Quantico was gender-integrated.

1978

Marine Corps Col. Margaret A. Brewer becomes a brigadier general – the first female general in the Corps’ history.

1978

LtCol Jane Wallis is the first female G1 at FMFPAC at Camp Smith Hawaii.

1978

PFC Myra Jepson first female Marine honor guard at the White House.

1980

Sergeant Major Ellie Judge first female Sergeant Major of MCB Camp Pendleton.

1980

Seven female midshipman were the first to be commissioned into the Marine Corps from U. S. Naval Academy.

1980

Sergeant Major Barbara A Farrell was the first female to be assigned to Assault Amphibian School Camp Pendleton.

1981

The Limited Duty Officer (LDO) program opened to females. Evelyn Potts was the first of two LDO’s.

1982

First female rifle platoon led by Lt Marie Juliano.

1984

Colonel Elaine Albertson Chapman becomes the first female staff judge advocate.

1984

Lt Col Elaine Bowden first female Officer to serve as the G-1 of the First Marine Amphibious Force in Okinawa, Japan.

1985

Recruit training lengthened from 8 weeks to 11 weeks.

1985

PVT Anita Lobo set a new range record with the first series of recruits required to qualify with the M16A1 at Parris Island.

1985

Female officers allowed to possess and train with the sword.

1985

Major Mitzi Manning was the first female commanding officer of H&HS MCAS Camp Pendleton. She created the table of organization.

1986

Rhonda LeBrescu Amtower after being commissioned, then Captain LeBrescu served as the first female Marine Attache serving at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong from 86-88.

1986

SGT Roxanne Conrad as a member of the Marine Corps shooting team was authorized to wear the Smokey Bear.

1987

SGT Roxanne Conrad first female distinguished with the pistol.

1988

Brigidear General Gail Reals first female to command MCB Quantico, VA.

1988

CMC Alfred Gray announces Basic Warrior Training would be extended to all recruits, male and female.

1988

Colonel Carol A Mutter first female of any of the services to gain qualification as Space Director, running first on of the CINC Space Command Center Crews and then the entire Command Center Crews and then the Command center operation.

1988

COL Eileen M. Alberston-Chapman first female appellate military judge.

1988

Major Doris Daniels first African American female to achieve the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

1988

Salinas became the first female in the Marine Corps to command a recruiting station.

1990

SSgt Carmen Cole first female Motor Transport Maintenance Shop Chief 7th Motor Transport Maintenance Battalion, Camp Pendleton California.

1990

MGySgt Shalanda Raynor first female to achieve the rank of master gunnery sergeant in the combat camera occupation.

1991

SGT Roxanne Conrad first female double distinguished with pistol and International awards.

1991

COL Eileen M. Alberston-Chapman first female to head the Naval Clemency and Parole system.

1991

CWO Roxanne Conrad first female Range Officer at Parris Island.

1991

COL Eileen M. Alberston-Chapman first female to head the Navy disability system.

1991

Gunnery Sergeant Joan Straub was the first female permanently assigned to an aircraft carrier, the USS Independence.

1992

Gunnery Sergeant Melody Naatz became the first female to don the flat brimmed “Smokey Bear,” while serving on the rifle range.

1992

SGT Roxanne Conrad competes in the Barcelona Olympics. Competed 1991 and 1995 Pan American games.

1992

SSGT Roxanne Thompson first Marine selected Armed Forces Athlete of the year.

1992

January: Sgt Laura L. Sheppard reported to Parris Island, South Carolina to attend Drill Instructor School in January of 1992. While at Parris Island, Sgt. Sheppard graduated five platoons, became the first female History Instructor for both Female and Male recruits and was the 4th Battalion Drill Master. (Laura L. Brown).

1992

Lieutenant Colonel Ginger Jacocks first female to command a Marine Corps Security Company in Frankfort. Germany.’

1992

Salinas became the first woman ever to be assigned as a combat service support ground monitor.

1993

CWO Carmen Cole was selected as a Warrant Officer becoming the first female in the Marine Corps to be a Motor Transport Maintenance Officer. She was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron-2, Marine Air Group–31, Beaufort, South Carolina serving as the Maintenance Management Officer.

1993

Secretary of Defense Les Aspen lifts restrictions and allows women to fly combat aircraft.

1995

Gilda Jackson was the first African American female Marine Colonel and the first woman to command the Naval Aviation Depot, Cherry Point, NC.

1995

Beth Schell first female enlisted to graduate #1 in the MCIWS course.

1996

Marine Corps LtGen. Carol Mutter becomes the first female three-star officer in the U.S. Armed Forces as she assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.

1996

1st group of women Marines complete male/female integrated Marine Combat Training Course at Camp Geiger, NC, with LCpl Melissa Ohm as honor graduate.

1997

Karen Fuller Brannen made history on October 17, 1997, when she became the U.S. Marine Corps first female strike fighter pilot to earn “wings of gold.”

1997

Gunnery Sgt Patricia Crimmins became the first female Marine to earn the drum major military occupational specialty.

1997

Jennifer Lamb first woman attached to an infantry company (Small Craft Co, 2MarDiv).

1999

Sgt Kelly L. Anderson is the first female to successfully complete Designated Marksman School at Fleet Combat Training Center Dam Neck, Virginia.

2001

Col Angela Salinas became the first woman to serve as a recruiting district commanding officer.

2001

Capt Vernice Armour becomes the first African American Pilot.

2001

Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters the first U.S. servicewoman to die in the war on terrorism.

2003

Capt Vernice Armour becomes the first African American female combat pilot with combat missions in Iraq.

2005

Cpl Ramona M. Valdez and Lance Cpl Holly A. Charette first women Marines killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near their convoy vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq.

2005

August Brig Gen Angela Salinas becomes the first female Marine to command San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

2006

After enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1974, Angela Salinas works her way through the ranks to make history by becoming the first female Hispanic brigadier general in the Corps.

2006

First Female Expeditionary Airfield Technician MOS 7011 to make it to the rank of MGySgt, Linda Field. First Female Occupational Field Sponsor for MOS 7011/7051 Pentagon 2006-2012.

2006

Major Megan McClung becomes the first female Marine Officer to be killed in Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2006

Capt Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah became the first woman to pilot the Osprey.

2007

January Sgt Maj Barbara J. Titus first female sergeant major of Marine Corps Installations West, a command overseeing seven installations west of the Mississippi River.

2008

Capt. Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah, the first female MV-22 Osprey pilot.

2009

All-Female Marine Team Conducts First Mission in Southern Afghanistan.

2009

Marine Corps helicopter pilot LtCol Alison J. Thompson recently became the first woman commander of a U.S. Marine Corps heavy Marine helicopter squadron.

2010

Staff Sgt. Tricia McBride, the first female to receive the Advisor Training Group’s stamp of approval to advise host nation forces in Afghanistan.

2010

First female Marine is selected by HQMC to serve as the Marine Corps Base Sergeant Major of Quantico, VA: SgtMaj Laura Brown assumes billet of MCBQ Sergeant Major on September 2011.

2011

First female Marine Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region. BGEN Lori Reynolds is posted and served until 2013.

2012

Master Gunnery Sgt. Shalanda Raynor first female in the Marine Corps, in her military occupational specialty as chief of Combat Camera, to achieve the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant.

2012

First female Marines take Combat Leadership Test.

2012

Corporal Cherisess Paige, a stableman with the MCG aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., is one of the first women to receive official orders to the unit, which had previously only been given to infantrymen.

LtCol Nicole A. Mann

2012

LtCol Nicole A. Mann was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class.

2013

Gunnery Sgt Robin Baker first female with this rank as a combat engineer. Baker also holds the firsts as the first female master breacher after successfully completing the Marine Corps’ Urban Breachers Course and one of only two female Marines to ever teach at the combat engineer school.

2013

The first three female Marines graduate from the Marine Corps’ enlisted infantry training course. PFC Christina Fuentes Montenegro, PFC Julia Carroll and PFC Katie Gorz.

2013

Sergeant Major Angela Maness first female to assume the duties of senior enlisted Marine at Marine Barracks Washington.

2013

First female Marine is selected by HQMC to serve as the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Command Senior Enlisted Leader, SgtMaj Bonnie Skinner.

2014

Brig Gen Helen Pratt, USMC was the 1st female President of the Marine Corps University from 2014 to 2016.

2014

Sergeant Major Angela Maness first female to become depot Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

2014

Sergeant Major Lanette Wright, the first female sergeant major of a Marine Expeditionary Unit in Marine Corps history.

2015

1st Sgt. Sigrid Rivera, earns 4th-degree black belt.

2015

First female Marine Officers and Drill Instructors (7) permanently assigned to MCRDSD Depot /Western Recruiting Region to work within the male Battalions. (Executive Officer and Support Battalion staff.)

2017

First female armor officer 2nd Lt. Lillian R. Polatchek graduated from the Army-led Basic Armor Officer Leaders Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Polatchek was the top graduate in the class of 67 soldiers and Marines. She became the first woman to lead a Marine tank platoon.

2017

Marine PFC Maria Daum first female Marine to join the infantry through the traditional entry-level training process.

2017

Gunnery Sgt. Stacie Crowther the first female Assistant Drum Major for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

2017

25 Sept: First female Marine graduates from the Marine Corps’ demanding Infantry Officer Course.

2017

First female Marine Officer graduates from Amphibian Assault Officer School Second Lt Mariah Klenke.

2018

6 March: First male-female integrated Marine Combat Training company on the West Coast. U.S. Marine PFC Kira Kozik, the first female Marine student to check in to School of Infantry – West

2018

April: Col Lorna M. Mahlock first African-American woman to earn the rank of brigadier general.

2018

22 June: LtCol Michelle Macander took over command of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton. This is the first time, a female Marine has been named commander of a ground combat arms unit.

2018

August: Lt. Marina A. Hierl became the first and only woman in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry platoon.

2019

Jan: January Sgt Tara-Lyn Baker is the first female Marine graduated from Winter Mountain Leaders Course.

2019

3 May: Cpl. Autumn Taniguchi, with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, first female Marine to graduate from the service’s Urban Leaders Course.

2019

11 March: Capt. Anneliese Satz The Marine Corps’ first female F-35 pilot.

2019

2 Aug: 1st Lt. Catherine Stark first female to train on the F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter.

2019

17 June: Lance Cpl. Megan Browning is the 1st female singer for a vocalist MOS.

2019

7 Nov: Lance Cpl. Alexa Barth became the first female Marine to pass the service’s challenging Basic Reconnaissance Course.

2020

Feb: Cpl. Julianna Yakovac first woman to graduate from the Corps’ Howitzer Section Chief Course.

2020

Feb: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Karen Dymora made history by becoming the first female commanding officer of a Marine Corps correctional facility when she took command of the Camp Pendleton Brig. On Feb. 10, Dymora was promoted to her current rank, an accomplishment held only by one other female in the occupational field.

2020

May: Sgt. Alyssa Triplett became the first-ever female to graduate the Scout Swimmer Course, a highly demanding course designed to teach Marines specialized amphibious abilities. The three-week course designed to make Marines capable of conducting boat raids.

2020

May: Capt. Nicholle Miller, earned a spot in 2d MARDIV history as the first female officer to serve with any LAR battalion in the Marine Corps.

2020

June: Lt. Col. Juliet H. Calvin took command of the Marine Corps’ newest battalion, 1st Network Battalion, and made history as the first Marine to command a unit of this type, which will ensure a resilient network that enables mission execution in the face of persistent cyber threats.

2020

18 Aug: Capt. Shaneka Shaw, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-1 (VMU-1) a weapons and tactics instructor, graduated from the MQ-9 Basic and Requalification/Transition Course 2 class 20-03 to become the first Black female Marine qualified to fly MQ-9 Reapers

2020

16 Dec: First female Marines graduate from Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego.

2021

Feb: Female Marines in training in San Diego.

SHAPING FUTURE GENERATIONS

The service and allegiance of women Marines has been guided by the passion and courage of those who have answered their country’s call to serve. For over 100 years, women Marines have inspired others, and their accomplishments will continue to shape future generations. WMA is proud to support, recognize, and honor the achievements of all women who have served and for those who are currently serving. Women Marines have a bond and camaraderie without generational limitations. The role of women Marines has continually evolved and pushed the boundaries and barriers for others to follow.

Women Marines have opened up doors to future generations of patriot women, of women empowerment, and gender equality earned on battlefields around the world.

Marine with rifle

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