MARADMIN 113/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MP DIV//
SUBJ/OBSERVANCE OF THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARINE CORPS WOMENS /RESERVE// GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. ON 13 FEBRUARY 1943, THEN COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, GENERAL HOLCOMB, ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF THE MARINE CORPS WOMEN'S RESERVE. SINCE THAT DATE, WOMEN MARINES HAVE PROUDLY SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS AND HAVE WORKED TO SECURE OUR HOMELAND, DEFEND OUR FREEDOM, AND LIBERATE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD FROM THE THREATS OF TERROR. THIS YEAR, MARINES PAST AND PRESENT WILL GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONTINUOUS ACTIVE SERVICE OF WOMEN SERVING IN OUR CORPS.
2. IN 1918, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR STATESIDE CLERICAL DUTIES WHICH FREED ENLISTED MEN FOR OVERSEAS SERVICE. ON 13 AUGUST 1918, THE FIRST CREDITED WOMAN MARINE, OPHA MAE JOHNSON ENROLLED IN THE MARINE CORPS. HER PIONEERING EFFORTS REFLECTED THE
DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF WOMEN AS A RESULT OF THE UNITED STATES' ENTRY INTO WORLD WAR I. PRIVATE JOHNSON LED THE WAY FOLLOWED BY 300 WOMEN THAT SAME YEAR TO ENTER THE MARINE CORPS. THESE FIRST FEMALE MARINES WHO VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE OUR
CORPS BROKE DOWN BARRIERS AND OPENED THE WAY FOR TODAY'S WOMEN MARINES WHOSE ROLES HAVE EVOLVED AND EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS. TODAY WOMEN MARINES FACE NEW CHALLENGES AND SERVE IN A MULTITUDE OF OCCUPATIONAL FIELDS, BILLETS, AND COMBAT OPERATIONS AS COMMANDING GENERALS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, SERGEANTS
MAJORS, RECRUITERS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, AND IN SUPPORT OF DESERT STORM, DESERT SHIELD AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM. WOMEN MARINES CONTINUE TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IN BOTH WAR AND PEACE.
3. I ENCOURAGE COMMANDERS TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FEMALE MARINES IN SUSTAINING OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MARINES. SEMPER FIDELIS.
4. THIS MARADMIN WAS AUTHORIZED FOR RELEASE BY MR. M.F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//