With the aviation seed in full bloom, Vernice was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998, and on her way to flight school. 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. 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. Executive Coach, Inspirational Leadership Keynote. [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 received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day . Combat tests you. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. Jump into read her life Facts, Wikipedia and biographies Details Vernice Armour Biography - Wiki When the Marine Corps Reserve allowed women to join, she was the very first one in line to enlist on August 13, 1918. She was rejected five times due to her age, and finally gave up trying to fly and joined the Marines instead. [4], Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Armour graduated from Overton High School, where she was a member of the mathematics honor society, the National Honor Society, and class vice-president. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. Answering the Call is a monthly series of short articles by prominent men and women discussing the impact of their time in the military on their later lives. 20-5523954. In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. Businesses are saluting Veterans Day with a host of discounts and freebies for veterans, service members and their families. Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to attend events such as parades to learn about the importance of the Veterans Day Veterans Day is also a day where Americans can work with organizations that support the military, veterans and their families Military.com's top photos of the week, November 13 - November 18. 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. 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. Please provide a few details regarding the upcoming event so that we can better assist you. Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. For Vernice, her life's passion was to become a cop, a job she wanted since childhood. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. [1] Upon leaving the military after the completion of two tours in Iraq, Vernice launched VAI Consulting and Training, LLC. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. As the first of over seven hundred women, McClarren became the poster girl for the opportunity, modeling the uniform, and even speaking on a podium with Eleanor Roosevelt to encourage other women to join. 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. in Physical Education: Emphasis in Exercise Science. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Born in Puerto Rico, Rose Franco was a famous female Marine because she became the first Hispanic woman to make it to the rank of chief warrant officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. She completed two combat tours in the Gulf. She died of congestive heart failure on September 30, 1990. "Do it," I say. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. Then I took a step that changed my life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black woman combat pilot. You can unsubscribe at any time. dont give them power. Discover Vernice Armour's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. She decided to leaving the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2007 to begin a career as a professional speaker sharing her story and as an expert on creating breakthroughs in life. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her Zero to BreakthroughTM Success Model a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on . Vernice "Flygirl" Armour 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. Vernice Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. Vernice Armour: First Black Female Combat Pilot, Disabled Vets Post Stunning Job Gains as Economy Remains Hot Despite Inflation, Troops and Vets Are Running Out of Time to Recoup Cash from Jewelry Swindler, Former Marine Hailed as 'Man of the Year' for Finding Missing Florida Toddler, The Quiet Determination Behind the Navy's Groundbreaking African American Reactor Officer, 2022 Veterans Day Deals, Discounts and Freebies, 2022 Veterans Day Free Meals and Restaurant Deals and Discounts, 2022 Military Travel and Recreation Discounts for Veterans Day, 2022 Veterans Day Retail Deals and Discounts, Veterans Day 2022 Parades, Events and More, Military Appreciation and Giving Back to Veterans on Veterans Day, This Weeks Top Military Photos: Can You Hear Me Now and a Corpsman Shoves Plastic in Nose, 'Veterans Are the Backbone of This Country:' Nation Honors Those Who Served, Listen to a Vietnam Veteran Describe the Reality of Deploying to Vietnam for the First Time, First Lady Hosts Veterans Day Breakfast, Supports Caregivers. Following the Iraq deployment, Levi was assigned to various detachments who travelled and worked around Southeast Asia. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour is a former police officer and America's first African-American female combat pilot who completed two combat tours in the Gulf. She served for three years without being detected and at the end of that time was honorably discharged, at which point she resumed her real name and attire, eventually settling down to married life. 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. 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. Receive notifications of new posts by email. In 1996, Armour fulfilled a childhood dream to become a police officer and became the first female African-American member of the motorcycle squad in Nashville, Tennessee. From there she went almost straight to a dramatics school and from there to Broadway where she made her mark on the world as a famous actress. The dedication, the commitment, the loyalty, that bond that comes with being a Marine -- you don't find it anywhere else. By signing up for this guide, you agree to receive email communications from VerniceArmour.com. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 47 years old? Back in the states at Marine Corps headquarters, I entered a new world as a diversity officer and a liaison to the Pentagon. "Why didn't I think of that?" 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. . 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 parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. [4], In March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming the Marines first black female combat pilot. 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. 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. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You. She says that while there were many hurdles in her journey to get there, having that umph made it . Afterwards, she was assigned to the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Equal Opportunity Branch as program liaison officer. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black female combat pilot. Armour earned her wings in July 2001 becoming the Marine Corps first black female pilot. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour has been tested her whole life. Anne E. Lamb may not have been the very first black woman to enlist but, as the second black woman to enlist in the Marine Corps the day following Annie Graham, she was one of the first two black women to go into training. Her first duties may have only been as a clerk, managing the records of the over three hundred other women that followed, but she was soon promoted to Sergeant in September of that year, making her the first woman to reach that rank and the highest ranking woman in the Marine Corps during her time there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tax ID: no. Natasha Smith. I had to wait until I became a decision maker in the organization and could impact the budget! 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. VERNICE "FLYGIRL" ARMOUR - HISTORICAL FLIGHT PATH How did it all start? You were as amazing and high energy as I remembered . Your email address will not be published. [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. Restaurants are saluting Veterans Day with free meals and discounts for veterans, service members and their families. I start my lectures wearing a flight suit and end it in a business suit. 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. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot . 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. Vernice Armour was born on 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, is a United States Marine Corps pilot. 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. It took me two years, but I finally booked you. 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. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. It took me two years, but I finally booked you. [1] Her grandfather was a Montford Point Marine, the first African Americans to integrate the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. Her family has a strong history of military service reaching back two generations, starting with her grandfather who served as a Montford Point Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. However, while in a ROTC leadership training she saw a black woman pilot wearing an Army flight suit which stuck in her mind. I never forgot that image. Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military. Vernice Armour: First Black Female Combat Pilot Proceedings My childhood dream was to be a mounted police officer and ride a horse downtown. 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. She was ranked number one in her class and became the first female African-American pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps. What is your job title?DirectorVPC-LevelOther (please specify below). 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. Before getting approval to shoot missiles as America's first Black female combat pilot, Vernice Armour, aka "FlyGirl," would wait to hear the words: "You have permission to engage, cleared hot." It's a message the former U.S. Marine Corps captain and author of "Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals That Matter" encouraged attendees at . She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals. She made the Naval Air Stations prestigious Commodores List, received the Academic Achievement Award, was the top graduate in her class, and went on to make history as the Marine Corps first African American female pilot. And sure enough, this ambitious lady achieved it, becoming the first African-American woman to work on the Nashville Police Department's motorcycle squad. 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