Lieutenant becomes first woman to lead Marine infantry platoon

[Peter1469]

Lieutenant becomes first woman to lead Marine infantry platoon

I think only two women have passed the Marine Corps Infantry Officer course. This woman is one of them.

First Lt. Marina A. Hierl has reportedly made history by becoming the first woman in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry platoon.

The 24-year-old is one of four platoon commanders in Echo Company, a group of 175 Marines and Navy sailors who were recently sent to northern Australia, The New York Times reported Thursday.


Hierl is one of two women to the 13-week Marines Corps’ Infantry Officer Course, according to the Times.


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“I wanted to do something important with my life,” she told the newspaper. “I wanted to be part of a group of people that would be willing to die for each other.”


She is now leading a platoon of roughly 35 men for six months of training exercises in the Pacific, the Times reported.


Capt. Neal T. Jones, commanding officer of Echo Company, reportedly asked for Hierl to be assigned to his unit.