In March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming Americas first African-American female combat pilot. Before she joined the Marines, Opha Mae Johnson worked for the Interstate Commerce Commission. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. In 1991, she graduated from John Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts where she was very active in the music program, class vice president, a member of Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics honor society), and The National Honor Society. She served for three years without being detected and at the end of that time was honorably discharged, at which point she resumed her real name and attire, eventually settling down to married life. [1], In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published.[6]. I've more than fulfilled my childhood dream of becoming a mounted policeman. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her Zero to BreakthroughTM Success Model a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat. Making History While Serving. After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. She flew the AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and eventually served two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2003, Armour became Americas first female African-American combat pilot during the invasion of Iraq. Structural Info Facts Known for movies Tavis Smiley 2007 as Herself Source IMDB She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. https://www.military.com/veterans-day/vernice-armour.html, https://www.dvidshub.net/image/618243/americas-first-female-african-american-combat-pilot, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernice_Armour. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech. Now why didnt I think of that! was her first thought! Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. With the aviation seed in full bloom, Vernice was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998 and on her way to flight school. Sha'ahn (Aug 17, 2006). I'm always urging my listeners to ask themselves, "What is your plan of attack?" "[5], Leaving the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2007, Armour began a career as a professional speaker and expert on creating breakthroughs in life. In 1996, Armour fulfilled a childhood dream to become a police officer and became the first female African-American member of the motorcycle squad in Nashville, Tennessee. I start my lectures wearing a flight suit and end it in a business suit. Shauna Upp Pellegrini & Upp A Tree Photography, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Mother-Daughter Duo Spotlight Black Women Who Made History With Powerful Photography Project. Businesses are saluting Veterans Day with a host of discounts and freebies for veterans, service members and their families. Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to attend events such as parades to learn about the importance of the Veterans Day Veterans Day is also a day where Americans can work with organizations that support the military, veterans and their families Military.com's top photos of the week, November 13 - November 18. By the time she finished her career she was working as a Secretary in the Pentagon and was even working there during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The uniforms for female Marines are relatively similar to those of their male counterparts. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. She is the first . I also realized that I couldn't give this my all and still provide what the Marines demanded, and deserved. When you bring people together, you will have differences and similarities that result in tension . I called the Marine recruiter and told him I wanted to become a combat pilot. Deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Vernice was recognized by the Department of Defense as Americas first African American female combat pilot. Then in 1996, her last year of college, she took time off to become a Nashville police officer. Armour has been awarded the Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. "Why didn't I think of that?" This famous female Marine was on a little-known TV show called Golden Girls. She flew the meanest helicopter in the U.S. military, the Super Cobra, which earned her the nickname 'Flygirl.' She . After this she got the duties of administrative supply assistant at Camp Pendleton in California. Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military - Gaston Armour was a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserve, and Clarence Jackson was a former Marine Corps sergeant that served three tours in Vietnam. A few months later, I decided that I could always be a cop, but I wouldn't always have the chance to fly. However, she took a break from college to follow her childhood dream of becoming a police officer. Earning her wings in July 2001, Armour was not only number one in her class of twelve, she was number one among the last two hundred graduates. Being a beat cop tests you. FlyGirl has two honorary doctorates and has received numerous awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Ruth Cheney Streeter lived in New Jersey and was the first woman president of her countys welfare board. List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Before getting approval to shoot missiles as America's first Black female combat pilot, Vernice Armour, aka "FlyGirl," would wait to hear the words: "You have permission to engage, cleared hot." It's a message the former U.S. Marine Corps captain and author of "Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals That Matter" encouraged attendees at . On December 12, 1998, Armour was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and send to flight school at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas and later to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. She plays . He deployed to Iraq in 2008 where he convoyed heavily around the Anbar province with a myriad of units. The only distinguishing difference is in their dress blues, which has an open collar vs. the traditional high collar. "I saw you in person and couldn't wait to bring your high energy, high impact presentation in to my organization! Notice, I didn't put the emphasis on permission, but on HAVE. In 1998, Armour became the first African American female to serve as a police officer in Tempe, Arizona before joining the U.S. Marines as an Officer Candidate in October 1998. In 1991, she graduated from John Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts where she was very active in the music program, class vice president, a member of Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics honor society), and The National Honor Society. Which Branch Of The Military Should I Join? What clients are saying. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour I help Executive Women OWN their story and their obstacles and turn them into the OPPORTUNITIES the really are! Being a beat cop tests you. Not sure ho, Meet Major General Marcia Anderson. Life tests you. As the first of over seven hundred women, McClarren became the poster girl for the opportunity, modeling the uniform, and even speaking on a podium with Eleanor Roosevelt to encourage other women to join. "I was like, 'Oh yeah, I wanna go to Mardi Gras!'" she laughs. [1], In March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming America's first African-American female combat pilot. After reviewing the presentations on your website, I knew our people would walk out the door with tangible tools they could utilize immediately and I was right!, What is your job title?DirectorVPC-LevelOther (please specify below). It was her childhood dream to become the first black woman on the motorcycle squad. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. [2], In 1993, while a student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Armour enlisted in the Army Reserves and later the Army ROTC. If anyone deserves to be on our list of famous women Marines it is Angela Salinas, the first Hispanic woman to rise to the rank of General. Required fields are marked *. As a Black gay woman and single mom, FlyGirl brings vital experience to her role as a member of the Forbes School of Business & Technology Board of Advisors and COMCAST/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council. While at Camp Pendleton, she was named 2001 Camp Pendleton Female Athlete of the Year, twice won the Camp's annual Strongest Warrior Competition, and was a running back for the San Diego Sunfire women's football team. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. She became the first female African-American on the motorcycle squad. Up until 2012, female Marines were unable to serve in a combat role. You clearly understood what our objectives were and worked collaboratively with our media team to setup the event and get the most out of the material and delivery. While at Camp Pendleton, she was named 2001 Camp Pendleton Female Athlete of the Year, twice won the Camp's annual Strongest Warrior Competition, and was a running back for the San Diego Sunfire women's football team. [4], In March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming the Marines first black female combat pilot. Allen serves as Deputy Department, Join us on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, at 5:30pm a, 1185 Park Center Dr Suite R Vista, CA 92081, 5062 Lankershim Blvd, #3013 North Hollywood, CA 91601. Do your finances keep you up at night? [1][2], After flight school, Armour was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California for training in the AH-1W SuperCobra. After flight school, Armour was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California for training in the AH-1W SuperCobra. Although both she and her commander knew the AARP salutes you for your service to our country with a special membership offer of up to 43% off. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black female combat pilot. She enlisted on February 8, 1952 at the age of twenty, completing her training in North Carolina. [3], Leaving the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2007, Armour began a career as a professional speaker and expert on creating breakthroughs in life. VerniceFlyGirlArmour @VerniceArmour Proud New Mommy,America's First African American Female Combat Pilot,Author, Vet, Inspirational Leadership Speaker,Biz Woman, #StayGutsy IG:VerniceFlyGirlArmour Atlanta, GA VerniceArmour.com Joined October 2008 4,836 Following 7,825 Followers Tweets Tweets & replies Media Likes Pinned Tweet VerniceFlyGirlArmour Her Story: Trailblazers, Barrier Breakers, Leaders, First African-American female navel aviator in the Marine Corps, first African-American female combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces. . What changed my mind was a flier offering a free trip to the Mardi Gras for anyone who joined the Army ROTC women's rifle team. 20-5523954. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. Vernice FlyGirl Armours story has been featured in the media including on CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey and many more, along with being a running back for the San Diego Sunfire professional womens football team and two-time title holder of Camp Pendletons Strongest Warrior Competition. As the saying goes, she disguised herself in mens cloths and, giving herself the name George Baker, went undetected through the physical exams to become a member of the Marine guard on the vessel the Constitution. Here she saw some of the bloodiest sea fights of the war of 1812. You know, the trailblazers, whether it was the male, female, black or white, the pilots or infantry, . Related Article: Which Branch Of The Military Should I Join? From there she worked her way up step by step until, on August 2, 2006, she was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, finally being promoted to Major General on May 12, 2010. She died of congestive heart failure on September 30, 1990. She became the first female African-American on the motorcycle squad. Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military. Vernice Armour (born 1973) is a former United States Marine Corps officer who was the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps and the first African American female combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Levi served in the Marine Corps as a heavy equipment operator from 2007-2011. During an Army ROTC career day, the seed of becoming a pilot was planted when Vernice saw the image of a young Black female in an Army flight suit. My stepdad had been a Marine, with three tours in Vietnam; my father had retired from the Army Reserve as a major; and in World War II, my grandfather was a Montford Point Marine -- a segregated unit that contained the first Black men in the Corps. She later retired, married, and had a family, telling her stories to her nieces and nephews as they grew older. Combat tests you. Anne Lamb and Annie Graham had to stand alone in their new position while the world adjusted to this new situation. All rights reserved. Vernice Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. USMC Tattoo Policy Changes For 2022 & 2022 (15 Things To Know), Marine FAST Teams: 5 Things You Need to Know, Top 20 Reasons To Join The Military (and 7 Reasons NOT To), Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM): 8 Things To Know, Army Achievement Medal (AAM): 6 Things To Know. She is a member of famous with the age 49 years old group. Her first job was as a typist at Marine headquarters in Washington D. C. and over the following two years she continued to work as a typist and also as a truck driver in both Virginia and North Carolina, a year into her enlistment marrying a fellow Marine by the name of Robert Aurthur. When the Marine Corps Reserve allowed women to join, she was the very first one in line to enlist on August 13, 1918. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour is a former police officer and America's first African-American female combat pilot who completed two combat tours in the Gulf. My childhood dream was to be a mounted police officer and ride a horse downtown. Armour earned her wings in July 2001 becoming the Marine Corps first black female pilot. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Armour graduated from Overton High School, where she was a member of the mathematics honor society, the National Honor Society, and class vice-president. [1] Afterwards, she was assigned to the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Equal Opportunity Branch as program liaison officer. Thanks to Grahams example many other black women were able to join as well, including Annie Grimes, third to join and the first black woman officer to spend a full twenty years in service. Now why didnt I think of that! was her first thought! [2], Armour's association with the SuperCobra attack helicopter earned her the nickname "Flygirl. her estimated net worth is $1 Million to $5 Million Approx. Discover Vernice Armour's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. In 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program while at Middle Tennessee State University. Speaking at conferences made me realize that people really wanted to hear about my Marine Corps experiences, and I loved sharing them. Acknowledge the obstacles and "make it happen." By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. After completing two tours in Iraq and leaving the military, Armour began a career as a professional speaker and book author. Upon leaving the military after the completion of two tours in Iraq, Vernice launched VAI Consulting and Training, LLC. When she finally worked her way up to Warrant Officer it was by the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy himself and there were only ten other female Warrant Officers in the Marine Corps at that time. Her grandfather, too, was a Marine. In 1998, Armour became the first African American female to serve as a police officer in Tempe, Arizona before joining the U.S. Marines as an Officer Candidate in October 1998. Vernice Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, and later lived in Memphis, Tennessee. Far back in our nations history only men were allowed to be Marines. "Do it," I say. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. [] Read More. Armour was raised in Memphis, Tennessee where she was a member of the mathematics honor society, the National Honor Society and class vice-president in high school. Employment numbers suggest that veterans have taken advantage of a robust economy fueled by the easing of the COVID-19 A group of state-level Department of Justice officials is encouraging veterans and service members to get their money back A young boy, nicknamed JJ, was missing for 24 hours after leaving his home in centralFloridawhile a parent slept until Last summer, Capt. Streeter became the first woman to become a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943, and was also the first director of the Marine Corps Womens Reserve. Vernice FlyGirl Armour has been tested her whole life. Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. VERNICE "FLYGIRL" ARMOUR - HISTORICAL FLIGHT PATH How did it all start? While there she was Camp Pendletons Female Athlete of the Year and two-time titleholder in their Strongest Warrior Competition. VERNICE ARMOUR: My thoughts on those that came before is I'm standing on their shoulders. We flew close air-support and convoy escorts in AH-1W SuperCobras, spending the night at forward operating bases in hostile territory. You can unsubscribe at any time. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, "Vernice Armour, 1st black female combat pilot, serves in Persian Gulf as family copes", http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_16_103/ai_100111398, http://www.vernicearmour.com/vernice-armour.htm, "First Black female pilot honored in memory of Bessie Coleman", http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/Sentry/StoryView.aspx?SID=416, http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200707/20070723_armour.html, http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Breakthrough-7-Step-Battle-Tested-Accomplishing/dp/B005ZO5LLE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330446664&sr=1-1, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War, Military personnel from Chicago, Illinois, Zero to Breakthrough(TM) Expert, professional keynote speaker, law enforcement officer. Born as Bernice Frankel, Bea joined the Womens Reserve two months before her twenty-first birthday and on February 20, 1943 began her basic training. Everything I do stems from my time in the Corps. While at Camp Pendleton, she was named 2001 Camp Pendleton Female Athlete of the Year, twice won the Camp's annual Strongest Warrior Competition, and was a running back for the San Diego Sunfire women's football team. She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. She later married, thereby changing her last name to Gilliard, and has recently passed away due to illness on July 4, 2002. However, that has since been revised to allow women to choose any MOS (IE jobs) they would like, including Combat MOS like infantry. Back in the states at Marine Corps headquarters, I entered a new world as a diversity officer and a liaison to the Pentagon. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. I view myself as a professional speaker and consultant. We all have obstacles in life, I tell them. Her family has a strong history of military service reaching back two generations, starting with her grandfather who served as a Montford Point Marine. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. Salinas retired from the Marine Corps in 2012 after serving for 39 years and has since continued to stay active as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. We have estimated She is a keynote speaker, leadership. [1] Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The dedication, the commitment, the loyalty, that bond that comes with being a Marine -- you don't find it anywhere else. It helps make the point. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. Though little is known about this last woman on our list today of famous women Marines, Ruth Wood has earned her place here as the first of the Women Marine Reservists to serve at the headquarters of the Marine Corps in Washington in 1943. According to legend she was the very first woman Marine in a time when women were not allowed to be Marines. [2][4], Armour graduated from MTSU in 1997. Clarence Jackson married Authurine. I talk about making "flight plans" instead of "road maps." 2023 VAI Consulting and Training, LLC |. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of "firsts" including America's first Black woman combat pilot. However, while in a ROTC leadership training she saw a black woman pilot wearing an Army flight suit which stuck in her mind. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech. Among them is one that is perhaps only legend, but arent legends a part of the Marine Corps? When her husband retired in 1986 they moved away from the military life and by the time Ruth died she had gotten to see the first four of their great-grandchildren. I had to wait until I became a decision maker in the organization and could impact the budget! In 1998, Armour became the first African American female to serve as a police officer in Tempe, Arizona before joining the U.S. Marines as an Officer Candidate in October 1998. Earning her wings in July 2001, Armour was not only number one in her class of twelve, she was number one among the last two hundred graduates. Clarence Jackson married Authurine and leaving the military, Armour graduated from MTSU in 1997 difference is their. 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