In 1993, while attending Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Armour decided to enlist in the U.S. Army Reserve and later entered the U.S. Armys ROTC. in Physical Education: Emphasis in Exercise Science. Your email address will not be published. The year after she retired she was awarded the Legion of Merit for her work as director, and later she was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal as well. 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. She first joined the military as an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet at Middle Tennessee State University in 1993. Life tests you. Allen serves as Deputy Department, Join us on Saturday, March 25th, 2023, at 5:30pm a, 1185 Park Center Dr Suite R Vista, CA 92081, 5062 Lankershim Blvd, #3013 North Hollywood, CA 91601. We will update Vernice Armour's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The dedication, the commitment, the loyalty, that bond that comes with being a Marine -- you don't find it anywhere else. I also realized that I couldn't give this my all and still provide what the Marines demanded, and deserved. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech. At 49 years old, Vernice Armour height not available right now. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. She completed two combat tours in the Gulf. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals. [1] 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. She enlisted on February 8, 1952 at the age of twenty, completing her training in North Carolina. [2], In 2011 her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published.[5]. With that said, there is actually more to her story than that. 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 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. [1], In March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming America's first African-American female combat pilot. While President Joe Biden travels abroad, first lady Jill Biden will host a Veterans Day breakfast at the White House. Combat tests you. She was twenty-five years old when she became the first woman to receive the Medal, and though very little is known about her other than this, it is clear that she helped to pave the way for future women by helping them gain the respect of their fellow marines. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. While in 1918 women were allowed to take clerical positions in the Marine Corps to free up the men for fighting, it wasnt until February 13, 1943 that they officially opened for women enlistment. [1], Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. When the Marine Corps Reserve allowed women to join, she was the very first one in line to enlist on August 13, 1918. 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.' She became the first female African-American on the motorcycle squad. Natasha Smith. 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. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black woman combat pilot. [2], In 1993, while a student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Armour enlisted in the Army Reserves and later the Army ROTC. Back in those days most places would separate blacks from whites and this made some things complicated. The message was right on., Our employees are overworked and underpaid. 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. She plays . Vernice Armour has a long list of accomplishments that put her on this list today. Her incredible journey - from police department to the Marines and becoming America's first Black female combat pilot - was filled with challenges, adventures, successes, and ultimate triumph. [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. She became the first female African-American on the motorcycle squad. Salinas enlisted in May of 1974, starting off as a legal services clerk. I had to wait until I became a decision maker in the organization and could impact the budget! 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. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour has been tested her whole life. Then I took a step that changed my life. 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. "I was like, 'Oh yeah, I wanna go to Mardi Gras!'" she laughs. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of firsts including Americas first Black female combat pilot. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. Join today and save on your next meal with AARP. 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. 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. 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. 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 talk about making "flight plans" instead of "road maps." During an Army ROTC career day, the seed of becoming a pilot was planted when Vernice saw the image of a young Black female in an Army flight suit. 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. 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). [1], In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published.[6]. In 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program while at Middle Tennessee State University. FlyGirl has two honorary doctorates and has received numerous awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). [4], 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. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. Today, Armour is a motivational speaker and author and one of the faces of a new campaign aimed at recognizing the contributions of women. Vernice Armour was born on 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, is a United States Marine Corps pilot. While there she was Camp Pendletons Female Athlete of the Year and two-time titleholder in their Strongest Warrior Competition. 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. Her father was a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserve, her stepfather was a former Marine Corps sergeant. 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. Sha'ahn (Aug 17, 2006). After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. 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