R 150232Z FEB 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 074/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/DOD OBSERVANCE OF 2012 WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH//
POC/C. D. BOLTCHAMBERS/CPL/CMC MPE/-/TEL:DSN 278-9371/TEL:(703)784-9371/EMAIL: CAMERON.BOLTCHAMBERS@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE MONTH OF MARCH WILL COMMEMORATE THE BEGINNING OF A MONTH DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN TO OUR GREAT NATION.  THIS YEAR'S THEME IS "WOMEN'S EDUCATION-WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT."
2.  MARCH 8TH MARKS THE 101ST ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.  ORIGINATING IN EUROPE, AMERICA HAS TURNED ONE DAY OF OBSERVANCE INTO AN ENTIRE MONTH CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF WOMEN.
3.  THE PURPOSE OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IS TO INCREASE CONSCIOUSNESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY AND OUR CORPS.  DURING THE 1970'S, SCHOOLS BEGAN HOSTING "WOMEN'S WEEK" TO COINCIDE WITH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.  THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE AND IT SOON GAINED ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO OBTAIN NATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM CONGRESS, WHICH PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ANUALLY OBSERVE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
4.  EDUCATION IS PARAMOUNT BECAUSE IT AIDS IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL AND IT IS A KEY COMPONENT FOR SUCCESS.  BY EDUCATING OUR MARINES WE EMPOWER THEM AND ARM THEM WITH ADVANTAGES BOTH ON AND OFF THE BATTLEFIELD.
5.  TODAY, OVER 13,000 FEMALE MARINES SERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY AND MORE THAN 5,000 FEMALE MARINES SERVE IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.  THEY ARE DEPLOYED AROUND THE GLOBE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY IN FEMALE ENGAGMENT TEAMS IN AFGANISTAN.
6.  WOMEN IN THE CORPS HAVE CONTINUED TO ANSWER THE CALL TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR NATION.  AS OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE HAVE INCREASED, EACH SUBSEQUENT GENERATION OF FEMALE MARINES HAS STEPPED UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND PAVED NEW ROADS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.  SINCE THE FIRST WOMAN DONNED A MARINE CORPS UNIFORM, FEMALE MARINES HAVE ENRICHED OUR CORPS' HISTORY AND ENHANCED OUR COMBAT CAPABILITY.
7.  ALL MARINES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK OUT FEMALE MARINES PAST AND PRESENT TO LEARN OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CORPS.  COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS WOMEN HAVE MADE TO OUR CORPS BY CONDUCTING PROGRAMS AND PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS.
8.  THIS MESSAGE WAS AUTHORIZED FOR RELEASE BY MR. M.F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//