MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Female Marines have come a long way from their counterparts who were required to get up every morning in boot camp and strategically apply lipstick and eye shadow. In today's Marine Corps, a 110-pound woman is expected to carry the same pack that a 200-pound man carries. They qualify with the same weapons and endure the same physical training. Now they are proudly leading from the front with a color guard. 

Recently five motivated female Marines took on the challenge of an all-female color guard. With a hard-charging squadron gunnery sergeant leading them, three corporals, Cpl. Kizzy Fabian, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron finance clerk, Cpl. Tisha Carter, H&HS community relations specialist and author of this story and Cpl. Mialisa Mendez, H&HS weather administrative clerk, and Lance Cpl. Odete Almeida, H & HS administrative clerk, put together H & HS's female color guard. 
When a request for an all-female color guard was submitted, Gunnery Sgt. Laura L. Brown, H&HS squadron gunnery sergeant, was quick to find some fired-up volunteers for the task.

"It was an interesting experience to get the chance to be a part of the female color guard aboard MCAS Miramar," said Fabian, who carried the national colors, "The female color guard has opened doors for those females on Miramar who would like to be a part of things like the color guard."

The female color guard supported the Military Women's luncheon, held Nov. 4 at the Officer's Club. The San Diego County chapter of the Women Marines Association hosted this year's luncheon, which brings together both officer and enlisted, active-duty and retirees from all branches of service. For those who are serving and have served before, it seemed a momentous occasion to see the female color guard.

"The greatest significance for us doing the color guard was that many of the retired women in the Women Marines Association were not allowed to wear trousers in public, let alone lead from the front with a color guard," said Brown. "Because of their sacrifices, women today have been moved in the forefront and have been afforded the opportunity. For them to see women perform in this manner gives them pride that the battles they fought were for something."

As the colors posted, the female color guard, adorned in dress blues, indeed seemed to bring a high level of motivation to the attendees.
"Did you see the crusty sergeants major women? Did you hear them sing the words to the national anthem? Now that was motivating!" said Brown. Today's Marines both male and female are constantly striving to achieve more and pave new roads for those coming behind them.

What does all this mean for Miramar?  According to Brown, "We have proven time and again that we are here to serve and we look darn good doing it!"