Marine Sets Example for Other Women
(March 26, 2010) |
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Marine Corps Cpl. Amy Gentry stands in her company's vehicle
compound at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 11, 2010. |
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., March 22, 2010 – When
women were first allowed to enlist in the Marine
Corps in the 1940s, they did not qualify with
weapons and they were not required to learn
hand-to-hand combat, but they received
instruction on etiquette and how to wear makeup.
Marine Corps Cpl. Amy Gentry is a prime example
of how much life for women serving in the Marine
Corps has changed. A fire team leader with 2nd
Platoon, Military Police Company, Combat
Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics
Group, Gentry has deployed twice to Iraq's Anbar
province.
She served solely as a heavy machine gunner from
August 2007 to March 2008, and as a
mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle driver
and heavy machine gunner from February to
September in 2009.
Though the 23-year-old Marine is a combat
veteran who loves to fire weapons and lead
Marines, her quiet demeanor can fool people into
thinking she is just a soft-spoken young lady.
Marine Corps Sgt. Brenden Colley, Gentry's
platoon sergeant, said that although she is not
like the mostly rambunctious Marines in his
platoon, he sees a lot of potential for her to
develop into a strong leader. |
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"She has a very quiet confidence about her," he noted.
"Because she is [so] competitive on paper, in competitions,
and during deployments and field operations, we utilize her
to guide new Marines when they check in."
Gentry volunteered to be a part of the regiment's team
during the Camp Lejeune 2010 Intramural Small-Arms
Competition early this month. She earned second place in the
individual pistol competition and contributed to the team's
overall second-place finish in the rifle competition and
fourth-place pistol title. It was her first time
participating in the competition.
Her passion for firing weapons was clear from the time she
decided to forego college life and enlist in the Marine
Corps.
"I've always loved the Marines, so when I did my research, I
went to my recruiter and asked, 'What's going to let me
shoot the most guns and deploy the most?'” she explained.
Gentry said she'll pass on her deep affection for the Corps
to her young Marines by continuing to lead by example.
"I want to make sure I take care of my Marines at all times
and to teach them to stick to the basics,” she said. “Things
like customs and courtesies, staying focused on completing
the job and learning everything you can to be a better
leader are things that I know will make them better leaders
and, in turn, better Marines." | |
Article and photo by
USMC GSgt. Katesha Washington
2nd Marine Logistics Group
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
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