MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- February 13 marked the 63rd anniversary of women's continuous service to the Marine Corps.
On Aug. 12, 1918, Opha Mae Johnson was the first of 305 women to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve to fill clerical duties at Headquarters Marine Corps, so battle-ready male Marines could go off to fight in France, while other women filled jobs at recruiting stations throughout the United States.
Once the war ended, all women Marines, or "Marinettes" as they were called, were separated from service by June 30, 1919.
Twenty-five years later, the same battle cry echoed on the recruiting posters of World War II and called for women to "Free a Man to Fight!"
It wasn't until Feb. 13, 1943, that Gen. Thomas Holcomb, the 17th Commandant of the Marine Corps, announced the formation of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve.
Women Marines became permanent members of the active-duty Marine Corps on June 12, 1948, when Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, although they had already proven themselves in two world wars.
While women were able to enlist along with their male counterparts, there were still many rules governing a woman's service in the Corps.
"When I came in, the law said there could not be any women generals, not even one- stars," said retired Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter, who was the first woman Marine to attain the rank of three-star general, during a 2003 interview for The Boot.
Other rules were if a woman Marine got married or pregnant, she was automatically separated from the Corps, said Maria Knox, a former Marine who served from 1988-1996. Today, women are allowed to get married and start a family, while remaining on active duty.
As the years progressed, however, the role of women in the Marine Corps changed. In the beginning, women Marines were used mainly for administrative purposes. Today, women Marines continue to serve overseas as pilots, heavy truck drivers, engineer equipment mechanics, ammunition technicians, ordnance specialists, radio operators and troop leaders, further demonstrating the changing face of America's most elite fighting forces.
Not only have women Marines proven themselves in a multitude of military occupational specialties and billets throughout the years, but they have also inspired changes within the Marine Corps as well.
"There are many ways in which women have influenced the Marine Corps," said Knox, who served in the administrative field.
Knox explained that by women indirectly influenced male Marines being able to receive paternity leave because women Marines were able to remain on active duty after having a baby.
Another example is the fitting of the uniforms. It used to be that the only utility uniform sizes available to women were the sizes created generically for the men. Now the uniforms are being created to better fit the woman stature."
Over the years, female training at Parris Island has changed greatly due to the changing roles and society's attitude toward women in the military. Female recruits trained in the Women Recruit Training Command (WRTC) under two companies, K and L, which were segregated from Recruit Training Regiment until 1986 when it became 4th Recruit Training Battalion.
Also, women did not qualify with rifles and were only required to run 1.5 miles on the physical fitness test, according to retired Gunnery Sgt. Rosa Robertson, who is the treasurer of the Phyllis Alexander Chapter of the Women Marines Association. Today's female recruits undergo field and weapons training, which was unheard of 20 or 30 years ago, and male and female recruit training now mirrors one another.
Robertson said it is important to carry on the history of women Marines because "it gives us a sense of belonging, sense of pride, and it just confirms that we have joined the right organization for the right reasons, being a Marine."
"It is important to honor and recognize the contributions of women in the Marine Corps because the role of women in the Marine Corps has change dramatically over the past 63 years," added Knox. "Those women who have proven themselves with the title 'Marine' have been and are currently setting the scene for the women Marines of tomorrow. We have to celebrate the achievements and learn from the hardships of the women who have completed the challenge it takes to be a Marine."
Today, women Marines comprise 6.2 percent of active duty personnel and serve in 93 percent of military occupational specialties and in 62 billets, according to the Marine Corps History Division.
Women are an integral part of the Marine Corps and will continue to carry on the proud tradition their predecessors started more than six decades ago.
"Women Marines are breaking new grounds almost on a daily basis," said Knox. "We are tested over and over again, and we are meeting the challenge. We may be young, but we are determined. We are Marines!"