2020 National Women's History Month

1.  Since proclaimed by Public Law 100-9 in 1987, March is observed as "National Women's History Month."  During this month, we take the opportunity to honor all women and to acknowledge their ongoing contributions to the success and development of our Nation.  The 2020 observance theme is:  "We can do it…and SHE did."<br>
2.  Lieutenant General Carol A. Mutter (b. 1945) served in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1999.  A native of Colorado, Carol Mutter became the first woman in the U. S. Armed Forces appointed to three-star rank upon her assuming the position of Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps in 1996.  Indeed, LtGen Mutter achieved several firsts for the Marine Corps.  In 1988, then Colonel Mutter was recognized as the first woman officer from across the military services to qualify as a Space Director, which eventually led to her assignment as Division Chief for U. S. Space Command's J-3 (Operations) Directorate, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  She is also the first woman General Officer to command a major deployable tactical command, the 3rd Force Service Support Group (FSSG), Okinawa, Japan.  Throughout her career spanning over thirty-one years, LtGen Mutter advocated for the increased integration of women in the Marine Corps.  She actively challenged the status quo concerning women not fully serving within the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) through her pragmatic understanding of both the operational necessities and the logistical requirements for deploying Women Marines with their units.  Officially retired in 1999, LtGen Mutter continues to advocate for women in the Marine Corps and other military advocacy causes.  She chaired the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) from 2002 to 2005.  She is a charter and life member of the Women Marines Association (WMA) where she served from 2000 to 2004 as National President.  For her lifetime of service and milestone achievements, LtGen Mutter was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2004.<br>
3.  In 2006, Major Megan McClung (1972-2006), a Media Relations Officer, became the first woman Marine Officer to be killed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  She is also the first woman graduate of the United States Naval Academy to be killed in action since the Academy's founding.  Today, the Women Marines Association provides the Major Megan McClung Memorial Scholarship, and the Sea Service Leadership Association (SSLA) offers the Maj Megan McClung Leadership Award (military) in her honor, which is presented each year at SSLA's Joint Women's Leadership Seminar.  Four Maj Megan McClung Leadership awards are available.  From a competitive pool of nominees, one field grade officer, one company grade officer, one staff non-commissioned officer, and one junior Marine may be recognized.<br>
4.  To learn more about Women Marine trailblazers, read, "The Very Few, the Proud: Women in the Marine Corps, 1977–2001," by Col Nancy P. Anderson, USMC (Ret.), (History Division - MCU Press, 2018).  To learn more about Women Marines and U.S. military history, visit the Library of the Marine Corps (grc-usmcu.libguides.com/library-of-the-marine-corps) or select a book from the Commandant's Professional Reading list (grc-usmcu.libguides.com/usmc-reading-list).<br>
5.  During this observance month, commanders are encouraged to recognize and celebrate the invaluable service and selfless contributions women - military, veteran, and civilian - give to our country and Corps.  Commanders are further encouraged to conduct programs and promote participation in observance events within their commands and across their local communities.<br>
6.  Release authorized by BGen D. L. Shipley, Division Director, Manpower Plans and Policy.