Restaurants are saluting Veterans Day with free meals and discounts for veterans, service members and their families. In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published. I earned my wings in 2001 -- the first Black female aviator in the Corps. A few months later, I decided that I could always be a cop, but I wouldn't always have the chance to fly. You've ALWAYS had permission and it's up to YOU to give it to yourself! Just as impressively, Salinas has a bachelors degree in history as well as a masters degree from the Naval War College. Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military. She is currently single. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Do your finances keep you up at night? On land, sea, and in the air, blacks have fought to protect our country. Vernice flew above the deserts of Iraq in her missile-equipped attack helicopter, engaging the enemy and scouting the roads from her cockpit, making sure they were safe for her fellow Marines and soldiers on the ground. She began to work in the Pentagon, holding various positions of importance until she retired in 1977 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3, after which she returned home to Puerto Rico. Being a beat cop tests you. During my. The Marine Corps points out the fact that physical examinations are very thorough and that the crew on the Constitution had little privacy at all. Speaking at conferences made me realize that people really wanted to hear about my Marine Corps experiences, and I loved sharing them. 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. She enlisted on February 8, 1952 at the age of twenty, completing her training in North Carolina. In 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program while at Middle Tennessee State University. Her grandfather was a Montford Point Marine, the first African Americans to integrate the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. Three brothers and being the only girltests you. in Physical Education: Emphasis in Exercise Science. Veterans Day was celebrated nationally with the Biden administration touting passage of one of the largest health care bills "I knew if I were still alive on March 5, 1968, I could get on the plane in Da Nang we used to call the 'Freedom Bird.' Jump into read her life Facts, Wikipedia and biographies Details Vernice Armour Biography - Wiki 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. [2] She later married, thereby changing her last name to Gilliard, and has recently passed away due to illness on July 4, 2002. Natasha Smith. 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. I'm always urging my listeners to ask themselves, "What is your plan of attack?" Born as Ruth Coggin, Ruth married a Master Technical Sergeant Wood in 1945 and by the time World War II came around two of her sons and six of her brothers and brother-in-laws had joined various military branches as well. 1 out of both her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate. Before she joined the Marines, Opha Mae Johnson worked for the Interstate Commerce Commission. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This famous female Marine was on a little-known TV show called Golden Girls. Former combat-helicopter pilot Vernice Armour rates eight helicopter scenes in movies and TV shows. Join today and save on your next meal with AARP. "I was like, 'Oh yeah, I wanna go to Mardi Gras!'" she laughs. 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. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. In my work with these clients, I pass along the values and techniques that I learned and honed in the Corps. She was ranked number one in her class and became the first female African-American pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps. 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. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. In September 1949, four years after Japans formal surrender, she enlisted and was very shortly afterward followed by Ann E. Lamb and the two went to boot camp together on September 10, 1949. [1], In 1993, while a student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Armour enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and later entered into the U.S. Army's ROTC. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. Her grandfather was a Montford Point Marine, the first African Americans to integrate the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. She plays . Women Warriors Alene Duerk, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy. 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. She is the 81st He, A heartfelt thank you to the Green Foundation for, The Womens Bureau of the U.S. Department of Lab, Meet Joy Allen. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tax ID: no. She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move. Soon that dream changed and she was entering the Marines with the goal of being a pilot. Vernice Armour joined the Marine Corps in October 1998 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on Dec. 12, 1998. . Often, we returned to our base in Kuwait with bullet holes in our helicopters. 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. What is your job title?DirectorVPC-LevelOther (please specify below). Her grandfather was a Montford Point Marine, the first African Americans to integrate the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. 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"Why didn't I think of that?" A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black woman combat pilot. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day . As her newest business venture, in 2020 FlyGirl started FlyGirl Construction, a General Contracting Firm in the Atlanta, GA area. 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. At the end of the war, Johnson was one of those removed from active service, but she continued to make her mark as a clerk in the War Department until she retired in 1943. When you bring people together, you will have differences and similarities that result in tension . 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. 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. According to our Database, She has no children. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. [1], Commissioned a Second Lieutenant on December 12, 1998 Armour was sent to flight school at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas and later Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. She served her time in the Marine Corps and later married, changing her last name to Ellis. 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. 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. In 1993, while a student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Armour enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and later entered into the U.S. Army's ROTC. After flight school, Armour was assigned to the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California to train in the AH-1W SuperCobra. 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. Notice, I didn't put the emphasis on permission, but on HAVE. While in 1918 women were allowed to take clerical positions in the Marine Corps to free up the men for fighting, it wasnt until February 13, 1943 that they officially opened for women enlistment. She was number in her own class of twelve and number one among the last two hundred graduates. After her military service, FlyGirlrevved up her careerin the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author ofZero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. Back in those days most places would separate blacks from whites and this made some things complicated. However, she took a break from college to follow her childhood dream of becoming a police officer. 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. My friends joke that I personify the old adage: "Once a Marine, Always a Marine." [2], In 1996, she took time off from college to become a Nashville police officer (her childhood dream). She is known for Fly Like a Girl (2019), Combat-Helicopter Pilot Rates 8 Helicopter Scenes in Movies and TV (2021) and Tavis Smiley (2004). [4], Commissioned a second lieutenant on December 12, 1998 Armour was sent to flight school at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas and later Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on . 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). How did it all start? It helps make the point. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. Combat tests you. 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. 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). Aug 25, 2021, 2:42 AM. [3] Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. It is perhaps more due to her fame as an actress than for any great deeds she did in the Marines that put her on this list, though as one of the first women to join the Marines she helped to pave the way for women after her. Vernice Armour is the first African-American female combat aviator in U.S. history. She flew the meanest helicopter in the U.S. military, the Super Cobra, which earned her the nickname 'Flygirl.' She . dont give them power. Life tests you. Required fields are marked *. 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. Vernice FlyGirl Armour has been tested her whole life. She talks to Farai Chideya about being a Super Cobra attack helicopter pilot, and her two . During ROTC leadership training in New Orleans, I saw a Black woman pilot wearing an Army flight suit. 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. I urge them to do more than just promise to try. I'm sure that what I learned in the military will always stay with me. 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. 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 served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. Black, gay, and a child of divorce, Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour learned this early. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. 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. After flight school, Armour was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California for training in the AH-1W SuperCobra. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour made history as the first Black woman aviator for the U.S. Marines, and also became the first Black woman combat pilot across the U.S. Armed Forces. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. We flew close air-support and convoy escorts in AH-1W SuperCobras, spending the night at forward operating bases in hostile territory. Her incredible journey - from police department to the Marines and becoming America's first Black female combat pilot - was filled with challenges, adventures, successes, and ultimate triumph. Vernice Armour. 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. There is no challenge too big for former Marine Corps Captain Vernice Armour. When she completed her four-year enlistment, she returned to Puerto Rico where she worked for an airline company. "I saw you in person and couldn't wait to bring your high energy, high impact presentation in to my organization! She first joined the military as an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet at Middle Tennessee State University in 1993. 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. 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