R 130824Z FEB 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 011/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MPE//
SUBJ/OBSERVANCE OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONTINUOUS ACTIVE
SERVICE OF WOMEN IN THE MARINE CORPS//
RMKS/1.  ON 13 FEBRUARY 1943, GENERAL HOLCOMB, THEN COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS, ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF THE MARINE CORPS
WOMEN'S RESERVE.  SINCE THAT DATE, WOMEN HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO
SERVE AS MARINES, AND THIS YEAR, MARINES PAST AND PRESENT WILL
GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONTINUOUS ACTIVE
SERVICE OF WOMEN IN THE CORPS.  
2.  IN 1917, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES,
THE LABOR POTENTIAL OF WOMEN BECAME OF MONUMENTAL IMPORTANCE.  
IT WAS PIONEERS LIKE PRIVATE OPHA MAE JOHNSON, THE FIRST WOMAN
TO ENLIST IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE ON 13 AUGUST 1918, WHO
REFLECTED THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF WOMEN AS A RESULT
OF THE UNITED STATES' ENTRY INTO WORLD WAR I.  PVT JOHNSON LED THE
WAY TO WOMEN CONSTITUTING 6.2 PERCENT OF OUR CURRENT END STRENGTH.
WOMEN MARINES HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN SUPPORT OF COMBAT
OPERATIONS DURING DESERT STORM AND DESERT SHIELD, WHEN
APPROXIMATELY 1,000 WOMEN DEPLOYED.  TODAY, WOMEN SERVE IN 93
PERCENT OF ALL OCCUPATIONAL FIELDS AND 62 PERCENT OF ALL BILLETS.  
WOMEN ARE FORWARD DEPLOYED AS AIRCREWS, CREW CHIEFS, MECHANICS,
COMBAT ENGINEERS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE
DISPOSAL TECHNICIANS.  THEY ALSO SERVE AS COMMANDING OFFICERS,
RECRUITERS, AND SERGEANTS MAJOR, AND THEY CONTINUE TO DISTINGUISH
THEMSELVES IN BOTH WAR AND PEACE.  
3.  ON 21 FEBRUARY 2003, I WILL HOST A COMMEMORATIVE
CELEBRATION AT THE WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA
(WIMSA) MEMORIAL TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THOUSANDS OF
WOMEN SERVING IN OUR CORPS HAVE MADE SINCE THEY FIRST EARNED
THE TITLE MARINE.
4.  I ENCOURAGE COMMANDERS TO TAKE PAUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF FEMALE MARINES IN SUSTAINING THE CORPS' VALUES OF
HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MARINES.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//