1 00:00:00,930 --> 00:00:02,986 World War took many young women from 2 00:00:02,986 --> 00:00:05,208 the sheltered comfort of their homes in 3 00:00:05,208 --> 00:00:06,986 private schools and put them in 4 00:00:06,986 --> 00:00:09,152 frontline hospitals and overseas camps 5 00:00:09,152 --> 00:00:11,720 in face of real dangers . Many more 6 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,070 replaced men on the home front . There 7 00:00:14,070 --> 00:00:16,292 were other jobs away from the immediate 8 00:00:16,292 --> 00:00:18,348 lines of battle but all important to 9 00:00:18,348 --> 00:00:20,348 the war . Rosie , the Riveter built 10 00:00:20,348 --> 00:00:22,730 ships , Spring Vietnam , the United 11 00:00:22,730 --> 00:00:24,650 States also took action this year 12 00:00:24,660 --> 00:00:26,930 against communist Vietcong penetration 13 00:00:26,930 --> 00:00:29,152 from the North U S . Marines are rushed 14 00:00:29,152 --> 00:00:31,208 to bolster pro Western Thailand when 15 00:00:31,208 --> 00:00:33,380 Red Pathet Lao forces overrun Northern 16 00:00:33,380 --> 00:00:34,000 Laos . 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,780 The birth of the Marine Corps Women's 18 00:00:57,780 --> 00:01:01,720 Reserve born February 13th , 1943 19 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,890 of necessity , the women marines 20 00:01:03,890 --> 00:01:05,930 mushroomed into a sizable force of 21 00:01:05,940 --> 00:01:08,470 eager , full fledged reserves who were 22 00:01:08,470 --> 00:01:10,230 ready to step into the breach 23 00:01:12,310 --> 00:01:15,060 in July camp Lejeune at New River , 24 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:17,390 North Carolina became the official 25 00:01:17,390 --> 00:01:19,723 training headquarters for women Marines . 26 00:01:23,670 --> 00:01:25,781 I could tell him that first day I was 27 00:01:25,781 --> 00:01:28,003 gonna like the Marine Corps . One thing 28 00:01:28,003 --> 00:01:30,059 a marine learns right away is how to 29 00:01:30,059 --> 00:01:32,960 stand in line . There was a marine 30 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:35,140 drive in the bus and I thought one of 31 00:01:35,140 --> 00:01:37,362 these days I'll be driving this bus and 32 00:01:37,362 --> 00:01:39,750 he can send back postcards from Tokyo 33 00:01:40,020 --> 00:01:42,187 and I'll give him my address before he 34 00:01:42,187 --> 00:01:44,920 leaves . Some people think a woman 35 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:46,976 consists of a pair of silk stockings 36 00:01:46,976 --> 00:01:49,630 and a smile , but not the Marine Corps , 37 00:01:51,210 --> 00:01:53,910 the uniform . Oh , golly . I never 38 00:01:53,910 --> 00:01:56,132 thought I'd want to wear the same thing 39 00:01:56,132 --> 00:01:58,077 as any other girl . But , well , I 40 00:01:58,077 --> 00:02:00,132 almost bowled when I put on my first 41 00:02:00,132 --> 00:02:03,890 suit of G I S . Some girls never had 42 00:02:03,890 --> 00:02:06,001 any special training , but the Marine 43 00:02:06,001 --> 00:02:08,280 Corps has a way of finding out what you 44 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,840 can do best they want to know . Not 45 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,310 only how much you know , and how fast 46 00:02:13,310 --> 00:02:16,820 you can think of it but also how fast 47 00:02:16,820 --> 00:02:20,360 you can learn it . My very dear friends , 48 00:02:20,620 --> 00:02:24,480 this is a G I D I government issue 49 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,810 drill instructor to you . He says 50 00:02:26,810 --> 00:02:29,500 something like you look too weak , 51 00:02:29,510 --> 00:02:32,710 grumpy . Look to what he's really 52 00:02:32,710 --> 00:02:36,020 saying is 1234 , you left , 53 00:02:36,030 --> 00:02:39,330 234 . We look something like this our 54 00:02:39,340 --> 00:02:42,020 first week . You really can't imagine 55 00:02:42,020 --> 00:02:44,131 how many left feet you have until you 56 00:02:44,131 --> 00:02:45,120 begin to drill 57 00:02:48,130 --> 00:02:51,880 forward . March up , reach for your 58 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,440 left , right left . You may wear a rut 59 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,850 in the field . You may have to re sole 60 00:02:56,850 --> 00:02:59,410 your shoes a couple of times , but you 61 00:02:59,410 --> 00:03:02,730 learn to march the Marine Corps way . 62 00:03:03,230 --> 00:03:06,240 However , it's not all thunder and 63 00:03:06,250 --> 00:03:08,100 double time in boot camp . 64 00:03:10,740 --> 00:03:12,851 There are times when you get a chance 65 00:03:12,851 --> 00:03:15,018 to become acquainted with your mates , 66 00:03:15,020 --> 00:03:17,640 you smoke a cigarette , listen to the 67 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:20,460 other girls talk . Maybe you tell them 68 00:03:20,460 --> 00:03:22,404 about the boyfriend in the Solomon 69 00:03:22,404 --> 00:03:24,960 Islands . It's not only permitted , 70 00:03:25,250 --> 00:03:28,760 it's encouraged after all a girl has to 71 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,140 keep up the morale . Make sure the 72 00:03:31,140 --> 00:03:33,307 fingernail polish matches the hat cord 73 00:03:33,307 --> 00:03:34,307 in color though . 74 00:03:38,490 --> 00:03:41,610 The last review you can feel all the 75 00:03:41,610 --> 00:03:43,832 heels hit the ground at the same time . 76 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,280 The music beats out the cape . Nobody 77 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,140 calling out left . Right . You don't 78 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:53,320 need that . It's hard to remember that 79 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,431 little girl who got off the train six 80 00:03:55,431 --> 00:03:57,598 weeks ago and didn't know her pork leg 81 00:03:57,598 --> 00:04:01,430 from a starboard . Well , do we know 82 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,400 for what we are fighting ? Regardless 83 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,040 of creed or color or ? 84 00:04:08,790 --> 00:04:12,750 Far from home alone , the woman marine 85 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,816 finds extended to her , the friendly 86 00:04:14,816 --> 00:04:18,060 quietude of church services , a fervent 87 00:04:18,060 --> 00:04:20,610 prayer for those who have died for 88 00:04:20,610 --> 00:04:24,460 those who shall live for our cause 89 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:26,770 and the part we must play . 90 00:04:33,790 --> 00:04:36,390 You wanted the challenge and you wanted 91 00:04:36,390 --> 00:04:38,870 to thrive in chaos . And I think that 92 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,250 what is , what a female marine is , 93 00:04:41,260 --> 00:04:44,930 someone who thrives in adversity . It's 94 00:04:44,930 --> 00:04:47,152 an amazing organization that we're part 95 00:04:47,152 --> 00:04:49,152 of that . There's always someone no 96 00:04:49,152 --> 00:04:50,986 matter junior or senior that are 97 00:04:50,986 --> 00:04:52,930 looking out for you and giving you 98 00:04:52,930 --> 00:04:54,874 advice and telling you things that 99 00:04:54,874 --> 00:04:57,041 maybe you don't want to hear , but you 100 00:04:57,041 --> 00:04:59,263 need to hear them . The women's history 101 00:04:59,263 --> 00:05:01,374 month is and nod really to those that 102 00:05:01,374 --> 00:05:03,597 have gone before us that have paved the 103 00:05:03,597 --> 00:05:03,290 way for us that went through things 104 00:05:03,290 --> 00:05:05,234 that will never have to go through 105 00:05:05,234 --> 00:05:07,457 because they took a stand . They fought 106 00:05:07,457 --> 00:05:09,290 through adversity and made their 107 00:05:09,290 --> 00:05:11,457 presence known and look forward to the 108 00:05:11,457 --> 00:05:10,910 future of what does the Marine Corps 109 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:13,132 hold and what's our place in history as 110 00:05:13,132 --> 00:05:14,132 well . 111 00:05:18,210 --> 00:05:20,432 So I first enlisted in the Marine Corps 112 00:05:20,432 --> 00:05:24,170 in 1985 . Um I came in and my 113 00:05:24,170 --> 00:05:26,410 recruiter , he said he was gonna put me 114 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:28,550 in an mos that was not traditionally 115 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,550 for women . 1985 . That was 116 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,610 ground support equipment mechanic . 117 00:05:35,310 --> 00:05:38,640 Yeah , it was not a traditional mos for 118 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,570 us . So that's how I started out . I 119 00:05:41,580 --> 00:05:43,191 worked in a headquarters and 120 00:05:43,191 --> 00:05:45,247 maintenance squadron and now I'm the 121 00:05:45,247 --> 00:05:47,247 director of alleged affairs here in 122 00:05:47,247 --> 00:05:48,969 headquarters Marine Corps , uh 123 00:05:48,969 --> 00:05:51,136 providing liaison over to Capitol Hill 124 00:05:51,136 --> 00:05:53,024 and the Congress on behalf of the 125 00:05:53,024 --> 00:05:55,770 commandant , remember when I was in 126 00:05:55,770 --> 00:05:59,450 boot camp , we were right about to go 127 00:05:59,450 --> 00:06:01,780 on the grinder for practice for 128 00:06:01,790 --> 00:06:03,846 graduation . And my drill instructor 129 00:06:03,846 --> 00:06:06,012 said , look over , look over there and 130 00:06:06,012 --> 00:06:08,234 we saw another drill instructor and she 131 00:06:08,234 --> 00:06:10,950 had the N C O sword and she was wearing 132 00:06:10,950 --> 00:06:13,172 it and you know , we were recruits , we 133 00:06:13,172 --> 00:06:15,172 didn't know what was going on . And 134 00:06:15,172 --> 00:06:17,394 we're like , well , they're like , they 135 00:06:17,394 --> 00:06:19,394 let her wear the sword . And it was 136 00:06:19,394 --> 00:06:21,506 1985 that women first were allowed to 137 00:06:21,506 --> 00:06:23,283 start wearing the sword . And I 138 00:06:23,283 --> 00:06:23,210 remember a drill instructors came to 139 00:06:23,210 --> 00:06:24,988 the squad bay and they had this 140 00:06:24,988 --> 00:06:27,880 announcement that Gayle Reels had been 141 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,330 selected by a promotion board to be a 142 00:06:30,330 --> 00:06:32,900 brigadier general . And quite frankly , 143 00:06:32,900 --> 00:06:34,622 the recruits , we didn't quite 144 00:06:34,622 --> 00:06:36,622 understand the magnitude of it . We 145 00:06:36,622 --> 00:06:38,622 didn't understand that this was the 146 00:06:38,622 --> 00:06:40,456 first time that a woman had been 147 00:06:40,456 --> 00:06:42,567 selected by a promotion board to be a 148 00:06:42,567 --> 00:06:44,844 brigadier general . So , quite frankly , 149 00:06:44,844 --> 00:06:47,067 during my career , I had always thought 150 00:06:47,067 --> 00:06:49,067 it was possible for a woman to be a 151 00:06:49,067 --> 00:06:51,810 general . It was just the way it was in 152 00:06:51,810 --> 00:06:53,699 the Marine Corps that women could 153 00:06:53,699 --> 00:06:56,070 aspire to that . Obviously , the woman 154 00:06:56,070 --> 00:06:58,292 who had gone before me didn't have that 155 00:06:58,292 --> 00:07:00,459 familiarity , didn't have that history 156 00:07:00,459 --> 00:07:02,920 to inform , you know , their future 157 00:07:02,930 --> 00:07:05,030 possibilities . So I would just say 158 00:07:05,030 --> 00:07:07,197 from the very first time when I was at 159 00:07:07,197 --> 00:07:09,630 boot camp as we marked some of these 160 00:07:09,630 --> 00:07:12,410 milestones , it just starts opening 161 00:07:12,410 --> 00:07:15,370 more and more possibilities of what 162 00:07:15,370 --> 00:07:17,481 women contribute to the United States 163 00:07:17,481 --> 00:07:21,080 Marine Corps and who we are . I look 164 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,510 back at um you know , some of the folks 165 00:07:23,510 --> 00:07:25,454 who have gone before us , but like 166 00:07:25,454 --> 00:07:27,566 Barbara Delinsky , she was one of the 167 00:07:27,566 --> 00:07:29,677 first women marines who ever deployed 168 00:07:29,677 --> 00:07:33,650 to a combat zone 1967 in Vietnam . You 169 00:07:33,650 --> 00:07:35,761 know , imagine getting off that plane 170 00:07:35,761 --> 00:07:37,880 just south of Saigon and trying to 171 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,491 figure it out all that great 172 00:07:39,491 --> 00:07:41,930 uncertainty , but just like I 173 00:07:41,930 --> 00:07:43,819 experienced in boot camp or in my 174 00:07:43,819 --> 00:07:46,100 deployment when she got off that 175 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:48,267 aircraft , she was going to be part of 176 00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:50,267 a team and that's how we all become 177 00:07:50,267 --> 00:07:52,600 successful is when we're part of a team . 178 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,520 I think I just look back even at Marine 179 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,980 Corps Aviation , we all know who a 180 00:07:57,980 --> 00:08:00,180 Cunningham is . We should all know who 181 00:08:00,180 --> 00:08:02,347 Frank Peterson is . We should know who 182 00:08:02,347 --> 00:08:04,310 Sarah Deal is . We should know who 183 00:08:04,310 --> 00:08:06,990 Nicole Man is . You know , as students 184 00:08:06,990 --> 00:08:08,879 of history , when we collectively 185 00:08:08,879 --> 00:08:11,046 understand all of these histories , we 186 00:08:11,046 --> 00:08:13,046 better appreciate the legacy that's 187 00:08:13,046 --> 00:08:15,157 been passed on to us . I think one of 188 00:08:15,157 --> 00:08:17,268 the things I've noticed over the past 189 00:08:17,268 --> 00:08:19,434 couple of decades , two decades of war 190 00:08:19,434 --> 00:08:21,730 is that we have leaders who are willing 191 00:08:21,730 --> 00:08:24,110 to recognize unique contributions of 192 00:08:24,110 --> 00:08:26,020 all of their marines , whether 193 00:08:26,030 --> 00:08:28,440 contributions in female search teams , 194 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,640 female engagement teams , lioness 195 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,330 programs . I think that's second nature 196 00:08:34,340 --> 00:08:37,220 to marines . We grow up naturally 197 00:08:37,220 --> 00:08:39,640 thinking about combined arms and 198 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,696 bringing all the capabilities of the 199 00:08:41,696 --> 00:08:43,473 mag taf to bear . Everybody has 200 00:08:43,473 --> 00:08:45,690 something to contribute . Everybody 201 00:08:45,690 --> 00:08:47,912 brings their unique capabilities to the 202 00:08:47,912 --> 00:08:49,968 table . And I think we breed leaders 203 00:08:49,968 --> 00:08:52,150 who look at all of their marines and 204 00:08:52,150 --> 00:08:54,150 try and take advantage of all their 205 00:08:54,150 --> 00:08:56,720 capabilities . And I think that over 206 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,720 the past couple of decades that has 207 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,831 just been reinforced with some of our 208 00:09:00,831 --> 00:09:03,053 accomplishments in both peace and war . 209 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,384 I think times like this in women's 210 00:09:06,384 --> 00:09:08,440 history Month , we will look back at 211 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,607 our history and we'll look back at our 212 00:09:10,607 --> 00:09:12,607 different milestones and how things 213 00:09:12,607 --> 00:09:14,607 have changed over time . One of the 214 00:09:14,607 --> 00:09:16,829 other things we have to look at are the 215 00:09:16,829 --> 00:09:18,884 constant . They were the same when I 216 00:09:18,884 --> 00:09:20,996 joined the Marine Corps in 1985 . And 217 00:09:20,996 --> 00:09:23,051 they're just as the same as I'm sure 218 00:09:23,051 --> 00:09:25,273 there's recruits arriving at MCRD , San 219 00:09:25,273 --> 00:09:28,240 Diego and Cudd Parris Island today that 220 00:09:28,250 --> 00:09:30,910 you will be challenged . If you want to 221 00:09:30,910 --> 00:09:33,550 be your marine , we're gonna hold you 222 00:09:33,550 --> 00:09:36,130 to a high standard , but the good news 223 00:09:36,130 --> 00:09:38,352 is we're gonna surround you with a team 224 00:09:38,352 --> 00:09:40,408 that's gonna help set conditions for 225 00:09:40,408 --> 00:09:42,680 success and we're gonna help you make 226 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:44,847 those standards , were gonna help help 227 00:09:44,847 --> 00:09:46,958 you achieve those standards and we're 228 00:09:46,958 --> 00:09:49,069 gonna do it as a team that's remained 229 00:09:49,069 --> 00:09:49,000 constant throughout the history of the 230 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,000 Marine Corps . 231 00:10:40,830 --> 00:10:43,770 14 . Go . 232 00:10:44,570 --> 00:10:48,250 Let's go . How could he behind you ? 233 00:10:52,260 --> 00:10:53,260 Come on , 234 00:11:00,020 --> 00:11:01,687 let's go dig deep right now . 235 00:11:35,390 --> 00:11:37,600 I promise you . This is just the 236 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:38,600 beginning . 237 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,460 Okay . My 238 00:11:43,460 --> 00:11:45,793 name is , that's our Blankenship Alexis . 239 00:11:45,793 --> 00:11:47,960 I'm currently a senior John Shorter at 240 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,080 Fourth Battalion Oscar company . This 241 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,247 will be my sixth cycle . Now with this 242 00:11:52,247 --> 00:11:55,170 platoon to be an instructor , I always 243 00:11:55,170 --> 00:11:57,226 think back to my drone structures or 244 00:11:57,226 --> 00:11:59,337 the reason I wanted to become a drill 245 00:11:59,337 --> 00:12:01,337 instructor . I love the impact that 246 00:12:01,337 --> 00:12:03,448 they had on me as a young woman and I 247 00:12:03,448 --> 00:12:05,392 wanted to have that same impact on 248 00:12:05,392 --> 00:12:07,281 young women being in my M O S . I 249 00:12:07,281 --> 00:12:09,559 thought I was the best that I could be . 250 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,392 I was , I was a top sergeant . I 251 00:12:11,392 --> 00:12:13,559 thought I knew everything about my mos 252 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:13,020 and then I'm gonna come down here and 253 00:12:13,020 --> 00:12:15,298 be an outstanding drone shorter . Well , 254 00:12:15,298 --> 00:12:17,464 come to find out it's not just running 255 00:12:17,464 --> 00:12:19,576 and screaming , it's a skill that you 256 00:12:19,576 --> 00:12:21,631 have to learn and you really have to 257 00:12:21,631 --> 00:12:23,853 put the time and effort and really push 258 00:12:23,853 --> 00:12:23,570 yourself past your own limitations . 259 00:12:23,580 --> 00:12:25,858 Not only were you putting the recruits , 260 00:12:25,858 --> 00:12:27,913 but we're also pushing ourselves and 261 00:12:27,913 --> 00:12:30,136 teaching ourselves how to be stronger . 262 00:12:30,136 --> 00:12:31,969 My first cycle , I struggle with 263 00:12:31,969 --> 00:12:33,524 understanding my role being 264 00:12:33,524 --> 00:12:35,691 continuously corrected on what I could 265 00:12:35,691 --> 00:12:37,913 do better , how can scream louder , how 266 00:12:37,913 --> 00:12:37,320 I can make a better correction for the 267 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,590 recruits to make them better . So now 268 00:12:39,590 --> 00:12:41,910 as being the senior instructor , I'm 269 00:12:41,910 --> 00:12:43,966 the one that's teaching my new drill 270 00:12:43,966 --> 00:12:45,632 instructors how to be a drone 271 00:12:45,632 --> 00:12:48,240 instructor . In my opinion , to be a 272 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,573 drone structure , you have to be humble , 273 00:12:50,573 --> 00:12:53,460 being humble and your work ethic has to 274 00:12:53,460 --> 00:12:55,960 be 100% . You have to be willing enough 275 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,330 to push yourself past your comfort zone 276 00:12:58,340 --> 00:13:00,720 in order to become that greenbelt drone 277 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,942 structure that they're gonna look up to 278 00:13:02,942 --> 00:13:04,942 or that senior drone structure that 279 00:13:04,942 --> 00:13:07,109 they're gonna want to be like when the 280 00:13:07,109 --> 00:13:06,500 recruits get back , you're getting back 281 00:13:06,500 --> 00:13:09,110 to like that's why sometimes it's hard 282 00:13:09,110 --> 00:13:11,277 as a new green belt instructor to want 283 00:13:11,277 --> 00:13:13,054 to stay , get back or make that 284 00:13:13,054 --> 00:13:14,943 correction because you're just as 285 00:13:14,943 --> 00:13:14,820 exhausted , if not more exhausted than 286 00:13:14,820 --> 00:13:17,700 these recruits are . I feel like , I 287 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:19,922 mean , impact on these young women that 288 00:13:19,922 --> 00:13:22,089 come down here and that is what the is 289 00:13:22,089 --> 00:13:24,311 going to impact the Marine Corps . It's 290 00:13:24,311 --> 00:13:26,533 that individual , you know , having the 291 00:13:26,533 --> 00:13:28,589 opportunity to give these girls that 292 00:13:28,589 --> 00:13:28,050 your globe and anchor . You know , I 293 00:13:28,050 --> 00:13:30,217 can still remember the first time that 294 00:13:30,217 --> 00:13:32,439 I felt that your Globe and anchor in my 295 00:13:32,439 --> 00:13:34,550 hand when my senior gave it to me and 296 00:13:34,550 --> 00:13:36,661 how much it meant to me so be able to 297 00:13:36,661 --> 00:13:38,750 do that same thing for them is it's 298 00:13:38,750 --> 00:13:42,650 emotional . I think the reason I'm so 299 00:13:42,650 --> 00:13:44,594 successful here and I have been so 300 00:13:44,594 --> 00:13:46,706 successful and enjoyed my time is the 301 00:13:46,706 --> 00:13:48,928 people that I've had the opportunity to 302 00:13:48,928 --> 00:13:51,150 work with . This place has truly helped 303 00:13:51,150 --> 00:13:53,317 me grow into the person that I want to 304 00:13:53,317 --> 00:13:55,483 be . I've seen the worst of myself and 305 00:13:55,483 --> 00:13:55,460 I've also seen the best of myself in 306 00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:58,650 this island . I really strongly believe 307 00:13:58,650 --> 00:14:00,761 that this place will make the best of 308 00:14:00,761 --> 00:14:02,650 you if you allow it , it's been a 309 00:14:02,650 --> 00:14:04,872 learning experience . It's had some ups 310 00:14:04,872 --> 00:14:06,928 and downs . I can assure you of that 311 00:14:06,928 --> 00:14:08,983 when you're in the funk together and 312 00:14:08,983 --> 00:14:11,150 you do it together , it makes it worth 313 00:14:11,150 --> 00:14:13,880 it . You know what I wanna talk about ? 314 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:15,880 I want to talk about my new marines 315 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,713 that I have right here . That is 316 00:14:17,713 --> 00:14:19,880 actually interviewing me . This marine 317 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,610 was here with my third cycle . I was 318 00:14:22,610 --> 00:14:24,721 about to go on quota . I was teaching 319 00:14:24,721 --> 00:14:26,810 knowledge . I think this is what I 320 00:14:26,810 --> 00:14:28,866 appreciate the most is being able to 321 00:14:28,866 --> 00:14:30,977 see you in the fleet Marine Corps and 322 00:14:30,977 --> 00:14:32,980 see how successful you've become 323 00:14:32,990 --> 00:14:35,212 because it's not about me . It's really 324 00:14:35,212 --> 00:14:37,268 what you're doing and how successful 325 00:14:37,268 --> 00:14:39,157 you're becoming your Marine Corps 326 00:14:39,157 --> 00:14:41,212 career . I'm halfway done . You just 327 00:14:41,212 --> 00:14:44,160 started . So , it's about you . It 328 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,010 really is . My name is Sergeant Alyssa 329 00:14:47,010 --> 00:14:48,732 Triplet and I'm a Marine Corps 330 00:14:48,732 --> 00:14:50,788 instructor , trainer of water spot . 331 00:15:01,330 --> 00:15:03,552 The scout swimmers draw basically is so 332 00:15:03,552 --> 00:15:05,608 they're gonna recon the whole entire 333 00:15:05,608 --> 00:15:07,663 beach so that the air force has come 334 00:15:07,663 --> 00:15:09,774 through being the question is nothing 335 00:15:09,774 --> 00:15:11,997 like discuss nothing . I don't think it 336 00:15:11,997 --> 00:15:14,219 prepared me at all because swimming and 337 00:15:14,219 --> 00:15:16,441 fitting is not the same at all . So , I 338 00:15:16,441 --> 00:15:15,860 mean , I guess I was comfortable in the 339 00:15:15,860 --> 00:15:18,170 water already so that kinda helped . 340 00:15:18,180 --> 00:15:20,880 But I like the fact that other people 341 00:15:20,890 --> 00:15:22,946 are inspired by the fact that I went 342 00:15:22,946 --> 00:15:24,890 through . But at first , it really 343 00:15:24,890 --> 00:15:27,168 wasn't that big of a deal to me , like , 344 00:15:27,168 --> 00:15:29,334 as a marine . It's just like something 345 00:15:29,334 --> 00:15:28,930 you do , you know . So it didn't really 346 00:15:28,930 --> 00:15:30,986 seem like that big of a deal to me . 347 00:15:30,986 --> 00:15:33,208 Yeah . Just don't give up . That's what 348 00:15:33,208 --> 00:15:35,374 I did . I just didn't give up . I just 349 00:15:35,374 --> 00:15:34,590 tried my hardest . 350 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,233 At first I was hesitant to go to 351 00:16:14,233 --> 00:16:16,456 section chief scores because I'm pretty 352 00:16:16,456 --> 00:16:19,220 hard on myself and I always want to be 353 00:16:19,230 --> 00:16:21,950 perfect at everything before I take on 354 00:16:21,950 --> 00:16:24,790 any sort of leadership role . But I'm 355 00:16:24,790 --> 00:16:27,050 really glad I did . It pushed me and 356 00:16:27,050 --> 00:16:29,450 challenged me in a lot of ways . And 357 00:16:29,460 --> 00:16:31,860 when I was the first one to graduate as 358 00:16:31,870 --> 00:16:34,037 being a female , I think that opened a 359 00:16:34,037 --> 00:16:36,203 path for more females . To do this job 360 00:16:36,203 --> 00:16:38,370 and to make it more normal for females 361 00:16:38,370 --> 00:16:40,150 to be in a combat mos 362 00:16:47,210 --> 00:16:49,760 I want this job to be more normalized 363 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,390 for females to be in . So that's why I 364 00:16:52,390 --> 00:16:55,130 make sure to push myself even when I'm 365 00:16:55,130 --> 00:16:57,297 not totally confident , to make sure I 366 00:16:57,297 --> 00:16:58,686 show that we can do this 367 00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:08,010 to me . Like I don't want me being a 368 00:17:08,020 --> 00:17:10,570 female section chief to take away from 369 00:17:10,580 --> 00:17:12,247 all the hard work that all my 370 00:17:12,247 --> 00:17:14,469 counterparts have done . We're just all 371 00:17:14,469 --> 00:17:17,650 here doing this job and it's hard work . 372 00:17:19,050 --> 00:17:21,106 Personally , you can take motivation 373 00:17:21,106 --> 00:17:23,050 from people saying that they don't 374 00:17:23,050 --> 00:17:24,772 believe in you or you can take 375 00:17:24,772 --> 00:17:27,430 motivation from people believing in you . 376 00:17:27,910 --> 00:17:29,640 I take motivation from both . 377 00:17:31,710 --> 00:17:33,740 So when I heard that people didn't 378 00:17:33,740 --> 00:17:35,907 believe that I could do it . I took as 379 00:17:35,907 --> 00:17:37,907 even more motivation to do it and I 380 00:17:37,907 --> 00:17:40,130 passed the course . I got good scores 381 00:17:40,130 --> 00:17:42,510 and I'm here now , I'm doing it . I'm 382 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,687 not perfect , but I'm doing the best . 383 00:17:44,687 --> 00:17:48,550 I can just like anybody else if you are 384 00:17:48,550 --> 00:17:50,550 a female and you're looking to join 385 00:17:50,550 --> 00:17:53,450 combat mos make sure that you're , you 386 00:17:53,450 --> 00:17:56,880 come to work and um really paved the 387 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,530 way for the future females .