A Brief History of Women in the Marines
2/2/12 Marine Corps Photo by GySgt Scott Dunn. GySgt. Veronica Soto, right, is promoted aboard USS Makin Island February 1.

 

Nearly a year after the United States entered World War II, the United States Marine Corps authorized a Women's Reserve, becoming the last of the services to open its ranks to both genders.


 

When publicly announced in February 1943, the Marines had a goal of 1,000 female officers and 18,000 enlisted volunteers, and by the end of the war in 1945, there were 820 officers and 17,640 enlisted female Marines. These women served in non-combat roles - most in clerical positions, although some were parachute riggers, mechanics, radio operators, welders and more - and none served farther west than Pearl Harbor. Marine Corps commandant General Alexander Vandegrift said the presence of female Marines made it possible for the 6th Marine Division to be put to the field.

 

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Books About and By Women in the Marines
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Join an Official Marine Parents Facebook Group

A new Place to Connect & Share�

 

Click here to join an Official Marine Parents State Group, to connect and share with family members of Marines and Veterans in your state.


 

Click here to join an Official Recruit Parents Group to connect and share with family members who have a recruit in the same graduating company as your recruit.

 

The Care Package Project™

 

Care packages are one of the most anticipated - and appreciated - gifts a Marine can receive while deployed to a combat zone overseas. Coming back from two days afield and finding a care package waiting can brighten a Marine's day or week. Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, for security reasons, we cannot and do not give out addresses of Marines stationed overseas. With the help of all our nationwide network of volunteers, we ship thousands of Care Package Project™ boxes each year. No matter where a Marine is stationed, a care package is a little piece of home, a little slice of America, a tangible reminder of the love and support people across the country have for our troops. Click here to learn more.

 


When you shop, you support:
 
Marine Parents™ | Recruit Parents™ | What's After Boot™ | Care Package Project™ | Warrior Support Team™ 
Operation PAL™ | After the Corps™ | Gold Star Family Support™ | Luminary Initiative™ | Team Marine Parents™ 


Place to Connect & Share�






   


MarineParents.com, Inc. is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, founded on January 21, 2003, to provide support, information, and services to Marines and their family members, and to create opportunities for individuals to support our troops. In over 12 years of service, Marine Parents has made a huge impact in support of Marines, military personnel, and their family members.

Marine family members are encouraged to support one another through activities and networking provided by the organization and guided by trained volunteers. Outreach to injured troops is volunteer-centered with in-person contact. Additional troop-support centered programs are designed to actively engage individuals and communities across the United States while maintaining the privacy of military personnel. All services are offered free to family members, Marines, and military personnel.

In 12 years of service, MarineParents.com has:
  • Invested over $6 million delivering direct support to Marines, their families and other military personnel.
  • Provided information and a Place to Connect & Share� to more than 311,000 family members through a network of communities and educational websites.
  • Collected materials and shipped over 39,000 care packages to Marines and military personnel in combat zones.
  • Involved thousands of Americans in sending over 93,000 cards and letters to injured troops.
  • Served over 40,000 meals to injured troops and their families at military medical facilities on the east and west coasts.
  • Planned and carried out recreational events for hundreds of injured troops and their families.
  • Delivered materials and resources to aid in the recovery process to hundreds of family members of injured troops.
  • Provided support and networking to hundreds of Gold Star families.
Tracy Della Vecchia, Founder and Executive Director, leads the operations from the corporate office in Columbia, Missouri with staff, volunteers, and a volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to the moderated, OPSEC-compliant social media groups, chat rooms, and informative websites, several outreach programs to support Marines and families before, during and after the Marine Corps are provided by the organization. Funding for the programs is through donations, grants, fundraising and EGA Shop sales. In 2009, the 15-item online store began expansion, eventually becoming the EGA Shop. In 2010, the production facility was established on-site to design and develop custom product, dramatically boosting sales and providing additional funding for the outreach programs. The organization is an official Marine Corps Trademark licensee.

Statistics updated January, 2015.