In recent weeks, women have been making military headlines at a phenomenal pace. It seems each branch has experienced firsts as far as female service members' contributions are concerned. While some events were built from decades of dedicated service, other stories are just now being written by incredible women who are fulfilling their duties and breaking barriers at the same time.
With this in mind, let's explore some women who have made their marks on the military in the past few months.
Marine Corps: Sergeant Tara-Lyn Baker
The Mountain Warfare Training Center is a place where warfare tactics test the strength, knowledge, resilience, and dedication of the Marines who are chosen to train there. In just about six weeks, each Marine who comes into the location will endure physically demanding situations that simulate real combat landscapes in environments only Mother Nature could deem acceptable.
Amidst below-zero temperatures and ultra-rugged environments, Sgt. Tara-Lyn Baker emerged as the first female Marine to graduate from the Winter Mountain Leader Course, bringing with her a bevy of respect and a new perspective of the types of people who are able to make it through this grueling journey.
Army: Command Sergeant Major Lynice Thorpe-Noel
Last month, the Army welcomed its first female senior enlisted advisor as Command Sgt. Maj. Lynice Thorpe-Noel found her way to the Human Resources Command (HRC). In a role that's often overseen by women in the civilian world, the military's talent initiatives have traditionally been driven by men.
As CSM Lynice Thorpe-Noel makes her way into her HRC setting, she plans to focus on initiatives that ensure Soldiers are taken care of by way of modernization and talent management initiatives that embrace today's technologies and staffing opportunities.
This is a world where the military can realize the potential of its service members while simultaneously ensuring people are taken care of. This means putting the right tools in the hands of the people who need them, placing service members in the positions that make the most sense, and ensuring everyone is at optimal preparedness.
Command Sgt. Maj. Lynice Thorpe-Noel has accepted this challenge.
In Memoriam — Navy: Captain Rosemary Mariner
According to Military.com, "In 1990, she became the first woman in the military to command an operational air squadron." She spent 24 years in service and logged more than 3,500 flight hours before succumbing to ovarian cancer at the age of 65.
As the Navy's first female jet pilot to fly the A-4C and A-7E Corsair II, she paved a way for her own career, as well as the many women who have chosen to follow her path since Captain Mariner first flew an aircraft for the Navy in 1973.
Upon her death, nine female pilots performed the "missing woman" formation in honor of the late Captain Mariner — an honor which has been bestowed upon many service members, but none of which has ever been performed by an all-female flight squadron.
Women have been making strides in the military for generations. In recent weeks, however, the aforementioned servicewomen have managed to make headlines in brand-new ways, showcasing the fact that there still many “firsts” waiting to be experienced, even in this modern era.
