A Woman Leads a Marine Infantry Platoon for First Time Ever
About 35 men in the Third Platoon of the 4th Marines’ Echo Company take orders from 24-year-old Marina Hierl. First Lt. Hierl is also the first woman to pass the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course. The 13-week program is both physically and mentally grueling.
“Leading Marines is an honor and privilege that 1st Lt. Hierl has earned through her own hard work and commitment, as do all our officers.” – Major Brian Block, Marine Corps spokesman, via CNN
15,885 women currently serve in the Marines, about 8.6 percent of all active duty members. “… in the end we are Marines first and foremost. We are leveraging every Marines’ individual performance, talent, and skills to maximize our warfighting capabilities …” – Major Brian Block, Marine Corps spokesman, via CNN
Related – Veteran Vision Project: a Humbling Look at Life After the Uniform
In the 242 years of the Marine Corps existence, women have been permitted into combat roles for
the past five.
“I wanted to do something important with my life. I wanted to be part of a group of people that would be willing to die for each other.” – First Lt. Marina Hierl, via CNN