MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- As Marines, support is offered in just about every imaginable form. There are various support structures that can help out service members in almost every aspect of their lives. Just one of the many examples are the scholarships that are available for service members and their families.
The Phyllis Alexander Chapter of the Women's Marine Association in conjunction with the Parris Island Museum and Historical Society, provide annual scholarships for Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadets and eligible female active duty Marines.
Battery Creek High School senior Mary Elizabeth Pruett was awarded a $1,000 scholarship at BCHS's John McVey Performing Arts Center May 5. The active duty scholarship will be awarded June 21 at the Recruit Administration Center.
The scholarship will aid Pruett in her quest to attend the Citadel and fulfill her goal of becoming a Marine Corps officer.
"It makes me feel really good to know that that kind of support is out there for me," said Pruett. "It helps a lot to have people behind me, pushing me toward my goal."
That is exactly what the WMA has been set up to accomplish, supporting the past, present and future women Marines.
"The goal is to bring women Marines, whether former or active duty, together to form a bond of fellowship," said Maria Knox, secretary of the Phyllis Alexander Chapter of the WMA. "A place where they can turn to get mentorship and to make sure that the history is alive and remembered."
The scholarship and the local WMA chapter are named after Phyllis Alexander. A former Marine whose hard work in the Corps and out, made a long lasting impact for women Marines and the community.
"Her timeless efforts are why we have teamed up with the Phyllis Alexander chapter of the WMA to provide this scholarship," said Chuck Taliano, a member of the board of directors for Parris Island Museum and Historical society. "This is an important thing to have as it helps to further the higher education for people in need."
These scholarships stand as an example of the type of support women Marines have available to them. The only thing the individuals need to do, is put forth the effort and they will get acknowledged.
"It demonstrates to the kids that they are being recognized for their accomplishments," said Maj. Jeff McGill, Junior ROTC leader. "That recognition is an important moral builder for them."
Creating that support and boosting morale makes an impression on the individual winners as well as on the community at large.
"This gives us an opportunity to reach out to the community and show our support for the JROTC program," said Knox. "It is important for them to understand that we are there for them to provide mentoring, along with monetary and community support."
That effort by the local chapter embodies what Knox said is the objective of the WMA as a whole.
"We are looking at it as helping the next generation of women in the Marine Corps," said Knox. "We are going to support, help them grow and be strong coming into the Marine Corps. So that when they are in, they are not looking at it as I am alone and there is no one else to emulate. They can see that there are other women Marines that have come before them and will come after them."
That mission of continuance has a special place for Knox who was in Pruett's shoes when she was in high school.
"This is exciting, I am a former JROTC cadet and I was the one who was receiving these types of awards my senior year," she said. "For me it's looking back, it's reminiscence, it's getting that motivation again to say, 'I remember when.' It helped me in my Marine Corps career to know that there are attainable goals. The reward itself is the sense of accomplishment of earning the title Marine and moving on from there."