Vernice found hers in college while studying at Middle Tennessee State University: a flyer posted on a bulletin board that said, Free Trip to Mardi Gras! Bernice Aurthur is much better known today by her stage name of Bea Arthur, a name which is quite famous in acting circles and on Broadway stages. So in August 2007, I left the Corps to start my own firm, helping companies and organizations improve their leadership practices and bottom-line results. Black, gay, and a child of divorce, Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour learned this early. I served two combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom -- eight months the first time and seven months the second -- and was recognized by the Defense Department for a second achievement: becoming the nation's first Black female combat pilot. She is currently single. The first women to join the Marines are all recorded in history, but there are a few other firsts for women that we are about to look at as well. 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). Vernice Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. Back in the states at Marine Corps headquarters, I entered a new world as a diversity officer and a liaison to the Pentagon. [1], In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published.[6]. Now why didnt I think of that! was her first thought! "Do it," I say. 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. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot . During my. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 where he convoyed heavily around the Anbar province with a myriad of units. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. [1], Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. In June of 1996, after a brief stint as a Nashville Sheriffs Department correctional officer, Vernice took a break from college to accept an invitation to the Nashville Police Academy. While President Joe Biden travels abroad, first lady Jill Biden will host a Veterans Day breakfast at the White House. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. A few months later, I decided that I could always be a cop, but I wouldn't always have the chance to fly. In 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program while at Middle Tennessee State University. I had to wait until I became a decision maker in the organization and could impact the budget! Structural Info Facts Known for movies Tavis Smiley 2007 as Herself Source IMDB document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. I view myself as a professional speaker and consultant. After month of deliberating between becoming a police officer and pilot, she decided she could always become a cop but she would not always be able to become a pilot. This famous female Marine was on a little-known TV show called Golden Girls. Notice, I didn't put the emphasis on permission, but on HAVE. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She is the first . She received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day following her fourth birthday and her dream quickly started to have a foundation in reality. 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. She became the first female African-American on the motorcycle squad. In 1998, Armour became the first African American female to serve as a police officer in Tempe, Arizona. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. According to legend she was the very first woman Marine in a time when women were not allowed to be Marines. 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. Speaking at conferences made me realize that people really wanted to hear about my Marine Corps experiences, and I loved sharing them. 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. Obstacles are opportunities. 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. Afterwards, she was assigned to the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Equal Opportunity Branch as program liaison officer. She first joined the military as an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet at Middle Tennessee State University in 1993. 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. The dedication, the commitment, the loyalty, that bond that comes with being a Marine -- you don't find it anywhere else. Copyright 2022. It took me two years, but I finally booked you. Foundation for Women Warriors is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity (tax ID# 20-5523954). She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move. Combat tests you. 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. Who is Devon Lee Carlson? 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 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. I'm certain that very few of the cops who rode horseback in my childhood days ever flew choppers in combat. It was an exhilarating -- and rewarding -- experience. She died of congestive heart failure on September 30, 1990. Salinas enlisted in May of 1974, starting off as a legal services clerk. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. [1] Three brothers and being the only girltests 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. In 1996, she took time off from college to become a Nashville police officer (her childhood dream). As a gay, Black woman she brought valuable personal experience to her work, driving diversity policy for a 200,000 personnel organization. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. [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. 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. 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. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Armour graduated from MTSU in 1997. She was an active volunteer with the Long Beach Lena Riggi married the . Combat tests you. 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. She was rejected five times due to her age, and finally gave up trying to fly and joined the Marines instead. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals. How did it all start? 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. 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. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. VERNICE ARMOUR: My thoughts on those that came before is I'm standing on their shoulders. Her grandfather was a Montford Point Marine, the first African Americans to integrate the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. [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. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. She says that while there were many hurdles in her journey to get there, having that umph made it . We have estimated When you bring people together, you will have differences and similarities that result in tension . We scour the universe for the best military travel and recreation discounts to celebrate veterans and Veterans Day. Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Vernice Armour. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. Then in 1996, her last year of college, she took time off to become a Nashville police officer. When the Marine Corps Reserve allowed women to join, she was the very first one in line to enlist on August 13, 1918. I earned my wings in 2001 -- the first Black female aviator in the Corps. 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. FREE GUIDE TO MAKE BOLD MOVES & BIG DECISIONS, The Gutsy Move: 5 Tips to Navigate Challenges and Achieve Your Visions and Dreams, I saw you in person and couldnt wait to bring your high energy, high impact presentation in to my organization! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Leaving the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2007, Armour began a career as a professional speaker and expert on creating breakthroughs in life. She completed two combat tours in the Gulf. While the Army and the Navy both allowed blacks into its wartime Women Reserves during the war, the Marines were the last to allow this. She is a member of famous with the age 49 years old group. Vernice "Flygirl" 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 Marine Corps first female combat aviator. Being a beat cop tests you. "[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 March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming Americas first African-American female combat pilot. 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. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. Join today and save on your next meal with AARP. 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. After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour I help Executive Women OWN their story and their obstacles and turn them into the OPPORTUNITIES the really are! Natasha Smith. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black woman combat pilot. 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. 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. [3] Discover Vernice Armour's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Though there are no records of anyone like her and no undisputable proof that Lucy Brewer really existed, she has still earned her place as a legend. She received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day following her fourth birthday and her dream quickly started to have a foundation in reality. "I was like, 'Oh yeah, I wanna go to Mardi Gras!'" she laughs. , money, salary, income, and assets. Vernice FlyGirl Armour has been tested her whole life. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. She wanted to join the toughest outfit, so she called a Marine recruiter and told them she wanted to be a combat pilot, joining as an Officer Candidate in October 1998. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. [1] [1] Afterwards, she was assigned to the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Equal Opportunity Branch as program liaison officer. Armour earned her wings in July 2001 becoming the Marine Corps first black female pilot. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. 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 Marine Corps Capt. The first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps and America's first African American female combat pilot in the United States military. She is a keynote speaker, leadership. Camp Lejeune has fourteen miles of beaches and is located between two deep-water ports, which is why it is used for amphibious assault training and also why it is easy to picture someone drowning near there. 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. Soon though, she had had enough of civilian life, so she rejoined the Marines, this time working in New York, then South Carolina. 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. Aug 25, 2021, 2:42 AM. [2] I talk about making "flight plans" instead of "road maps." In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. I'm immensely proud of having been able to serve my country, and thankful for having joined the Corps. 2023 VAI Consulting and Training, LLC |. 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. 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. However, that has since been revised to allow women to choose any MOS (IE jobs) they would like, including Combat MOS like infantry. First of all before she even joined the Marines she was the first African-American woman to be on the Nashville Police Motorcycle Squad, something which had apparently been a childhood dream of hers. Sha'ahn (Aug 17, 2006). 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