WEBVTT 00:01.680 --> 00:04.429 - I think as I look at the Marine Corps and where it's going, 00:04.429 --> 00:05.977 I think the only way that we're going is the right way 00:05.977 --> 00:08.020 because we're always making changes to do better. 00:08.020 --> 00:10.308 And some of the things that we see in regards to female Marines 00:10.308 --> 00:12.656 is we see the integration at recruit training, 00:12.656 --> 00:15.469 whether it be at Parris Island and now MCRD San Diego. 00:17.373 --> 00:18.937 I think when you think of some of the accomplishments that 00:18.937 --> 00:21.772 women have made as they've been in the military services, 00:21.772 --> 00:23.996 not just the Marine Corps but as a whole, 00:23.996 --> 00:26.082 is just seeing what females have done. 00:28.023 --> 00:31.593 I have never regretted my decision of becoming a United States Marine, 00:31.593 --> 00:33.813 even when it was hard or when it was challenging. 00:33.813 --> 00:35.928 I never doubted becoming a United States Marine because it's been 00:35.928 --> 00:37.959 the best thing that I've ever done. 00:37.959 --> 00:42.816 Not only because it's my way of life, but I love what I do, I truly love it. 00:44.241 --> 00:46.930 - It's extremely important that we continue to talk about our history 00:46.930 --> 00:51.088 and where we were, where we are now, and where we're going to. 00:51.088 --> 00:54.326 And be happy about that, don't forget your past. 00:54.326 --> 00:55.850 Don't forget your past. 00:57.200 --> 00:58.330 It was challenging at times. 00:58.330 --> 01:00.667 I had to prove myself every day. 01:00.667 --> 01:03.470 As a musician, you can prove yourself by playing your instrument, 01:03.470 --> 01:06.342 doing the jobs correctly and, you know, 01:06.342 --> 01:10.122 being a leader within your band. 01:10.122 --> 01:14.773 And going into the accounting field and then being within a different unit 01:14.773 --> 01:17.635 with a very low number of females, 01:17.635 --> 01:20.283 that was very challenging. 01:20.283 --> 01:23.015 I think I matured quicker. 01:23.015 --> 01:25.964 All I ever wanted was the chance to. 01:25.964 --> 01:28.677 I wanted the opportunity to. 01:28.677 --> 01:31.172 I never ever wanted something handed to me 01:31.172 --> 01:32.972 simply because I was a woman. 01:32.972 --> 01:36.069 The rifle team, though, is probably the second biggest thing 01:36.069 --> 01:38.406 that I am extremely proud I got to go and do. 01:38.406 --> 01:41.687 I was part of the all-female team that went to 01:41.687 --> 01:44.062 Camp Perry. 01:44.062 --> 01:46.944 And we have a national record for our team. 01:46.944 --> 01:50.999 So that's one of the biggest things that 01:50.999 --> 01:53.013 I can't believe I accomplished. 01:53.013 --> 01:56.624 But so happy I got the opportunity to go and do that. 01:58.181 --> 02:00.464 - [Kirkby] If I were able to talk to my young high school self, I would say, guess what? 02:00.464 --> 02:03.426 It's not going to be easy, but you're going to be able to make it. 02:03.426 --> 02:06.102 I've just been really blessed with an amazing career. 02:06.102 --> 02:08.393 I just always have to remember it's my experience. 02:08.393 --> 02:10.085 My experience is different than everyone else's. 02:11.621 --> 02:14.928 - [Black] So I'm extremely happy that women are able to 02:14.928 --> 02:17.391 have the opportunity to fill these billets 02:17.391 --> 02:20.095 and by golly if you're good enough and 02:20.095 --> 02:22.511 you don't need any special treatment, 02:22.511 --> 02:25.331 then good on you, you know? 02:25.331 --> 02:28.881 Go kick butt and take names and show those after you 02:28.881 --> 02:31.122 that they can also do it. 02:31.122 --> 02:33.668 But just the opportunity to be able to do these new experiences 02:33.668 --> 02:36.144 are absolutely amazing. 02:36.144 --> 02:38.282 I'm jealous, I'm envious, 02:38.282 --> 02:42.203 but I'm so thankful that there's women out there that want to do that 02:42.203 --> 02:43.567 because that's what it's about, right? 02:43.567 --> 02:45.427 We're Marines. 02:45.427 --> 02:49.190 -I think, when we see where we are today, 02:49.190 --> 02:52.814 let's use trailblazers. 02:52.814 --> 02:54.904 Let's talk about Sergeant Major Joy Kitashima for a second. 02:54.904 --> 02:57.159 She's getting ready to be a MEF sergeant major. 02:57.159 --> 02:59.768 To her, business as usual. 02:59.768 --> 03:03.130 To everyone else, that's somebody we should probably 03:03.130 --> 03:05.616 take a look at and go, "wow". 03:05.616 --> 03:09.046 There's going to be a female MEF sergeant major. 03:10.954 --> 03:12.603 I would ask, before everybody really thinks about 03:12.603 --> 03:14.958 oh what's the big deal, read her biography. 03:14.958 --> 03:17.615 See what she's done in her career. 03:17.615 --> 03:21.736 Challenge someone else's personal experience and their 03:21.736 --> 03:23.838 biography and what they've done in our Corps 03:23.838 --> 03:26.354 and tell me that Sergeant Major Kitashima 03:26.354 --> 03:29.404 is not prepared to be a MEF sergeant major. 03:29.404 --> 03:32.679 Quite frankly, III MEF is pretty important to us right now 03:32.679 --> 03:35.421 in our national defense strategy. 03:35.421 --> 03:38.762 I may not have had the same perspective at one point in time. 03:38.762 --> 03:40.818 We all grow and mature. 03:40.818 --> 03:43.336 I think where we are 03:44.112 --> 03:45.971 in the Marine Corps right now... 03:45.971 --> 03:48.316 And people are going to argue this until the day is long. 03:48.316 --> 03:53.031 I have absolutely no issue serving next to a woman in the uniform 03:53.031 --> 03:56.633 in any role that I've ever experienced in my entire Marine Corps career. 03:56.633 --> 03:59.405 And some of them are probably the most unpleasant roles 03:59.405 --> 04:01.738 we would ever have any Marine serve in. 04:01.738 --> 04:03.469 They haven't been the best. 04:03.469 --> 04:06.038 Women, at least throughout my career, 04:06.038 --> 04:11.861 excel in ways that we probably don't give ourselves credit for sometimes. 04:11.861 --> 04:14.824 Like Sergeant Major Kitashima or 04:14.824 --> 04:17.210 Sergeant Major Brown that preceded her, 04:17.210 --> 04:19.362 or Sergeant Major Fortner or 04:19.362 --> 04:22.114 1st Sergeant Black, right? 04:22.114 --> 04:24.431 These aren't people that we're talking about in the future. 04:24.431 --> 04:28.965 These are Marines that have served recently and are serving now. 04:31.514 --> 04:33.625 We're in a good place 04:33.625 --> 04:36.046 with only better places to go in the future. 04:36.046 --> 04:39.059 It's a good place to be right now in our Corps.