Women have been serving in Marine Corps combat roles for over a decade. With the increased focus on this subject, let’s take a closer look at the Marine Corps newest implementation, the Female Engagement Team. Having served two tours in Iraq as a lioness, I know firsthand the Marine Corps continues to implement women throughout ground combat units to support intelligence gathering, patrols, public affairs and tactical searches to name a few. Women have become a vital addition to overseas operations during the last decade. Sergeant Sheena Adams writes about her ground perspective, training and proper utilization of our Lady Marines.
Women in combat… Thanks congress for thinking about us, but truth be told, we as in females have been in combat for some time now. With minimal parts like convoy drivers and logistic resupplies to the more in-depth programs like the lioness of Iraq and the Female Engagement Teams (FET) in Afghanistan. The most current women in combat have been thru the Female Engagement Teams, this program was started in early 2009 and is still going on, although the missions are changing from Afghanistan to Ship applications.
FETs are trained in the similar fashion that the male infantry unit receives Shoot, Move and Communicate training. The FETs learn to move and transition fire between their M4 Carbine and M9 Pistol, they are knowledgeable on assembly, disassembly and shooting of Crew Serve Weapons to include .5o Cal, MK19, and 240 to name a few. Each member will be certified Combat Live Savors and are licensed for military vehicles prior to deployment. However, that is not the only thing FET learns before deploying. During their phase 2 training, they learn their softer skills, here is where FETs learn what type of capabilities they bring to the table, why they are key on the missions and how to be employed properly.
Talk to a FET member and each one of our experiences will be dramatically different, we deploy in teams of 3 attached to a battalion, company, or platoon. For some of us the battalions wanted nothing to do with us, believing that females will do nothing but get in the way, they view us and treat us as such. However as for my team we were one of the teams that were very successful during our deployment, because we were employed correctly with a battalion that supported us.
FET is a challenge no matter where you are or whom you are working with, like every new position we have to prove ourselves and show this male dominated world that we had something to offer. Rapport building is FETs key to success it all starts with the battalions or unit you are attached, you have to make them want to employ you and use your capabilities. Once the battalion sends us out on that first patrol it is all about the relationships you can make and the connections with the local population. FETs were brought in to talk to the other 50% of the population that the male infantry could not do, but we ended up being so much more then that. Females have that soft side that makes the males want to open up and talk to, to the local population even though we are carrying our weapons we are not viewed as a threat but as someone willing to help. As the relationship with the communities expand from a single male, to his wife, and then extended family FET have a unique opportunities to help. Over the past few years FETs have been able to open schools, conduct health initiatives, open up small businesses, assist with orphanages and overall strengthen communities in Afghanistan. Female Marines will continue to adapt to new situations, brining in our own expertise till it is no longer “Women in Combat” but simply “Marines”.
Written by, Sergeant Sheena Adams, USMC
Forward by, Jenna Lombardo, Sergeant, USMC-IR (Lady Leatherneck)
