A windy day at
Cape Hatteras and
I just happened
to catch a
picture of this
Marine flag
at the exact right
moment!
Since becoming a Marine mom in 2003, I have learned how important it is for military parents to connect with other military parents,
not to believe everything in print or on television, and that every one of us has a strength deep down inside to draw upon when we
need it most.
My hope here is to honor the troops and to share online resources, letting you know that you are not alone.
Marinemoms-Bethesda.org and Jane's Blog are not endorsed by or connected in any way with the USMC, the DoD or anyone
else official. The opinions here are the opinions of the author's only.
Copyright © 2008-2010 Jane's Blog.
All rights reserved.
Continued prayers for our Military and their families.
Love and Hugs,
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE
WOMEN MARINES!
OOH RAH!
The other day I was reminded that
"There are Daughters who are Marines, too."
So I thought, "Ok, I should write something about our Women
Marines." The only Women Marines I have met are the ones who work in the Liaison's office at Bethesda.
What was
weird was then I checked my email - I get a bunch of stuff sent to my inbox - and there was this article from the Armed Forces
Press:
All-Female Marine Team Conducts First Mission in Southern Afghanistan
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Monty Burton
Special to American Forces Press Service |
|
FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan, March 10, 2009 - Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
-- the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan -- now have a special group of people to
help them complete their mission in Afghanistan.
|
Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Johanna Shaffer shares a cookie and a smile with
an Afghan child while under the watchful security of Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, during her all-female
team's first mission in Farah province, Feb. 9, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Monty Burton
(Click photo for screen-resolution
image);high-resolution image available. |
|
The
task force's all-female Marine team is interacting with the Afghan female population in southern Afghanistan -- a task considered
culturally unacceptable for the male Marines operating there.
A similar program has been used in combat operations in Iraq, but this
is the first time Marine forces in Afghanistan have employed the concept, officials said.
You can read the rest of the article here.
|
For
Women Marines, here's a link to the Women Marines Association:
And there is a movie that has just come out about the Lionesses.
Lioness
the Film – There for the Action, Missing from History.
How did a group of female support soldiers-mechanics, supply clerks and
engineers-end up fighting alongside the Marines in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgency battles of the Iraq war? Find out in Lioness,
a film about female combat veterans.
The trailer is here. Long download, but worth the wait.
Then I got curious and found this article.
Lioness Program 'Pride' of the Corps
March 13, 2009
Marine Corps News
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Ca. — When the focus of military operations in Iraq shifted
from direct combat actions to stabilization and peacekeeping missions, Marines in combat units manning tactical control points throughout
the country began using search and seizure methods to capture insurgents trying to smuggle weapons and other contraband through the
checkpoints.
However, since Muslim tradition does not allow a man to touch a woman who is not related to them and knowing American
military personnel would not search them unless a female service member was present, insurgents began to use women to smuggle contraband
and act as suicide bombers.
To counter this threat, the Marine Corps developed the Lioness Program, which was formed five years ago
to provide culturally-sensitive searches on Iraqi women, according to an article written by Regina T. Akers, a Ph.D. historian at
the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington, D.C.
The Lioness Program attaches female Marines to combat units to search
Iraqi women and children who may be trying to smuggle money or weapons through security checkpoints in Iraq. The “lionesses” also
train Iraqi women how to conduct proper searches on other women. (More at the link.)
World War I Recruitment Poster
They (women Marines) don’t have a nickname, and they don’t need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine
post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines.
—Gen Thomas Holcomb, 17th CMC, (1936-1943)
World War I recruitment poster updated to reflect today's Women Marines.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Swenson
All profits from the sale of items in the MM-B store benefit
of serving
combat wounded Veterans
and their families..
Past Posts
Holiday Cheer at Bethesda
Never Forget!
Quilt Raffle Update
Arlington visit
Independence Day
May 2009
April 2009
March
2009
November 2008