MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Retired Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter visited the Depot to attend a 4th RTBn. graduation, as well as to celebrate the Phyllis Alexander Chapter's 61st Anniversary Celebration of Women Marines in a banquet at Traditions Feb. 13.
Lieutenant Gen. Mutter, who is the second woman in the armed services, and the first woman Marine ever to attain the rank of three-star general, said women Marines have come a long way since first being allowed to join the Marine Corps Women's Reserve on Feb. 13, 1943, during World War II.
"When I first came in, the law said there could not be any women generals, not even one stars," said Lt. Gen. Mutter.
As the years progressed, however, the role of women in the service changed. During World War I, 305 women served in the Marine Corps Reserve. However, all were separated after the war ended by June 30, 1919. Women were not able to serve as permanent, regular members of the armed services until June 12, 1948, when Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act.
Today, women Marines continue to serve overseas piloting attack helicopters, driving heavy trucks and leading troops, further demonstrating the changing face of America's most elite fighting forces.
"[Women Marines] have shown themselves to be very confident and capable in Operation Iraqi Freedom and all that they've done within the operations," said Lt. Gen. Mutter. "Just like they did in Desert Storm and many of the operations in between and in the years before that, women have always proven that they are more than capable of doing whatever they've been assigned to do, and there are more things that they can and will get the opportunity to do as time goes on."
Lieutenant Gen. Mutter also proved that she was highly capable as a Marine throughout her 31 years of service. In July 1988, she joined the U.S. Space Command and became the first woman to gain qualification as a space director.
Raised on a farm in Eaton, Colo., Lt. Gen. Mutter said she never imagined she would amount to so much in the Marine Corps.
"I went to college to be a teacher," said Lt. Gen. Mutter, who attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. "I was commissioned, and I figured I could do this for three years and go back to teaching - I love teaching. But I just kept enjoying what I was doing and feeling like it was something worthwhile, and the Marine Corps allowed me to stay, so I stayed. I've had wonderful opportunities."
Her tenure as a lieutenant general gave her an opportunity to inspire many changes that benefited all Marines, she said.
"I had the great fortune as lieutenant general to be in charge of Manpower Reserve Affairs [DC/S, M&RA] for the Marine Corps, so I could impact policies and programs for all of our Marines, active and reserve, and also for our families and for our civilian Marines as well," she said. "So, it gave me the tremendous opportunity to make life better."
Although she was able to impact the lives of many Marines, her status as a high-ranking female officer also gave her added responsibilities.
"It's an honor, certainly, but it's also a responsibility to make sure you live up to expectations, and that you fulfill your obligations and don't do anything that reflects badly on women so that they have the same opportunities," she said. "It's an opportunity, as well, to make a difference."
Lieutenant Gen. Mutter, who retired on January 1, 1999, continues to make a difference by serving as chairman for the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, an organization that promotes the interests of women service members and their families.
She also serves as the National President for the WMA, an organization of female Marines who preserve and promote the history of Women Marines. Each WMA chapter works to raise money for charitable and educational purposes, provides assistance to hospitalized veterans, as well as promotes the civic and social welfare of the community.
It is extremely important that women Marines carry on the memory and history of the women Marines that came before them, said Lt. Gen. Mutter.