I'm certain that very few of the cops who rode horseback in my childhood days ever flew choppers in combat. Vernice Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In my work with these clients, I pass along the values and techniques that I learned and honed in the Corps. 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. Kimberly Jones quietly took on a new job aboard a new ship. Though there are no records of anyone like her and no undisputable proof that Lucy Brewer really existed, she has still earned her place as a legend. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 where he convoyed heavily around the Anbar province with a myriad of units. Armour discusses the accuracy of "Black Hawk Down" and "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." She also analyzes the helicopter stunts in "Mission: Impossible Fallout" and "Spectre." Top editors give you the stories you . It is perhaps more due to her fame as an actress than for any great deeds she did in the Marines that put her on this list, though as one of the first women to join the Marines she helped to pave the way for women after her. Obstacles are opportunities. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. 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. 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 Marine Corps points out the fact that physical examinations are very thorough and that the crew on the Constitution had little privacy at all. Being a beat cop tests you. [1][3], Armour graduated from MTSU in 1997. She is currently single. Now retired from the Marines, Armour has not forgotten her training and started her own business and shares with others that Marine mentality.. In September of 1945 she was honorably discharged, by then holding the rank of Staff Sergeant. However, that has since been revised to allow women to choose any MOS (IE jobs) they would like, including Combat MOS like infantry. We have estimated [2], In 1993, while a student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Armour enlisted in the Army Reserves and later the Army ROTC. 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. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. 2023 VAI Consulting and Training, LLC |. When you bring people together, you will have differences and similarities that result in tension . A few months later, I decided that I could always be a cop, but I wouldn't always have the chance to fly. her estimated net worth is $1 Million to $5 Million Approx. 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." She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals. 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. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. 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 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 Armour joined the Marine Corps in October 1998 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on Dec. 12, 1998. . When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot . What clients are saying. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour has been tested her whole life. Her father was a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserve, her stepfather was a former Marine Corps sergeant. After her military service, FlyGirlrevved up her careerin the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author ofZero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. 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. [2], In 2011 her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published.[5]. All Rights Reserved. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. [2], In 1996, she took time off from college to become a Nashville police officer (her childhood dream). She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She got her commercial pilots license when she was forty-seven years old with the intention of joining the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS). Please provide a few details regarding the upcoming event so that we can better assist you. It's such . How did it all start? In 1996, she took time off from college to become a Nashville police officer (her childhood dream). You know, the trailblazers, whether it was the male, female, black or white, the pilots or infantry, . 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. It was her childhood dream to become the first black woman on the motorcycle squad. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour has been tested her whole life. Up until 2012, female Marines were unable to serve in a combat role. She received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day . Copyright 2022. [2], Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston C. Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. She is not dating anyone. With that said, there is actually more to her story than that. I start my lectures wearing a flight suit and end it in a business suit. When she completed her four-year enlistment, she returned to Puerto Rico where she worked for an airline company. It was an exhilarating -- and rewarding -- experience. [2][4], Armour graduated from MTSU in 1997. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. Which Branch Of The Military Should I Join? There is no challenge too big for former Marine Corps Captain Vernice Armour. She talks to Farai Chideya about being a Super Cobra attack helicopter pilot, and her two . 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. She completed two combat tours in the Gulf. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals. 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. We flew close air-support and convoy escorts in AH-1W SuperCobras, spending the night at forward operating bases in hostile territory. The dedication, the commitment, the loyalty, that bond that comes with being a Marine -- you don't find it anywhere else. Former combat-helicopter pilot Vernice Armour rates eight helicopter scenes in movies and TV shows. Some even made history doing it, like former Marine Capt. 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. 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. Her family has a strong history of military service reaching back two generations, starting with her grandfather who served as a Montford Point Marine. Sha'ahn (Aug 17, 2006). I called the Marine recruiter and told him I wanted to become a combat pilot. According to our Database, She has no children. If anyone deserves to be on our list of famous women Marines it is Angela Salinas, the first Hispanic woman to rise to the rank of General. 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. Vernice "Flygirl" 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 Marine Corps first female combat aviator. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Levi served in the Marine Corps as a heavy equipment operator from 2007-2011. Upon leaving the military after the completion of two tours in Iraq, Vernice launched VAI Consulting and Training, LLC. Everything I do stems from my time in the Corps. 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. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech. She died of congestive heart failure on September 30, 1990. I asked myself. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. By the time I was 21, I had made it During my last year of college, I became a motorcycle cop, riding a steel horse. Then in 1996, her last year of college, she took time off to become a Nashville police officer. She graduated in December 1996 and later became the first woman of color on the Nashville Police Departments motorcycle squad. All rights reserved. Afterwards, she was assigned to the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Equal Opportunity Branch as program liaison officer. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. Often, we returned to our base in Kuwait with bullet holes in our helicopters. Combat tests you. Vernice Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. She became the Marine Corps' first African-American female pilot. Vernice Armour's net worth Foundation for Women Warriors is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity (tax ID# 20-5523954). 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. She is a member of famous with the age 49 years old group. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. Her grandfather was a Montford Point Marine, the first African Americans to integrate the Marine Corps between 1942 and 1949. Camp Lejeune has fourteen miles of beaches and is located between two deep-water ports, which is why it is used for amphibious assault training and also why it is easy to picture someone drowning near there. Vernice FlyGirl Armour has been tested her whole life. Among them is one that is perhaps only legend, but arent legends a part of the Marine Corps? Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military. [4], In March 2003, she flew with HMLA-169 during the invasion of Iraq becoming the Marines first black female combat pilot. Not sure ho, Meet Major General Marcia Anderson. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. [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. Soon though, she had had enough of civilian life, so she rejoined the Marines, this time working in New York, then South Carolina. Both her father and her stepfather had served in the military - Gaston Armour was a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserves, and Clarence Jackson was a former Marine Corps sergeant that served three tours in Vietnam. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 47 years old? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois to Gaston Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour. 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. Vernice found hers in college while studying at Middle Tennessee State University: a flyer posted on a bulletin board that said, Free Trip to Mardi Gras! 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. Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour made history as the first Black woman aviator for the U.S. Marines, and also became the first Black woman combat pilot across the U.S. Armed Forces. After her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine. She was rejected five times due to her age, and finally gave up trying to fly and joined the Marines instead. She earned her wings in July of 2001, not only the top of her class of twelve, but also the top of the two hundred others who were graduating, making her not only the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps, but also the first African-American female combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces. While there she was Camp Pendleton's Female Athlete of the Year and two-time titleholder in their Strongest Warrior Competition. She now resides in Atlanta, GA with her daughter Noahher gutsiest move yet. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 1 out of both her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate. When she finally worked her way up to Warrant Officer it was by the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy himself and there were only ten other female Warrant Officers in the Marine Corps at that time. I view myself as a professional speaker and consultant. Her Story: Trailblazers, Barrier Breakers, Leaders, First African-American female navel aviator in the Marine Corps, first African-American female combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces. Structural Info Facts Known for movies Tavis Smiley 2007 as Herself Source IMDB , money, salary, income, and assets. In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. How did it all start? www.VerniceArmour.com You HAVE permission to Engage! By signing up for this guide, you agree to receive email communications from VerniceArmour.com. 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. My company, VAI Consulting and Training, LLC, in Stafford, Virginia, has a list of clients that includes banks, defense contractors, nonprofit organizations and even the Department of Defense. This famous female Marine was on a little-known TV show called Golden Girls. First African-American female navel aviator in the Marine Corps, first African-American female combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces Armour was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. Women Warriors Alene Duerk, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, "First Black female pilot honored in memory of Bessie Coleman", "Vernice Armour, 1st black female combat pilot, serves in Persian Gulf as family copes", "Black Female Pilot Breaks Racial, Gender Barriers", "Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter: Vernice Armour: Amazon.com: Books", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vernice_Armour&oldid=1088417067, African-American female military personnel, United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War, Female United States Marine Corps personnel, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Zero to Breakthrough(TM) Expert, professional keynote speaker, law enforcement officer, This page was last edited on 17 May 2022, at 21:59. While there she continued to excel, she was named 2001 Camp Pendleton Female Athlete of the Year, twice won the Camps annual Strongest Warrior Competition, and was a running back for the San Diego Sunfire womens football team. Vernice FlyGirl Armours story has been featured in the media including on CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey and many more, along with being a running back for the San Diego Sunfire professional womens football team and two-time title holder of Camp Pendletons Strongest Warrior Competition. Anne Lamb and Annie Graham had to stand alone in their new position while the world adjusted to this new situation. 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. 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. What changed my mind was a flier offering a free trip to the Mardi Gras for anyone who joined the Army ROTC women's rifle team. Life tests you. 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. Just as impressively, Salinas has a bachelors degree in history as well as a masters degree from the Naval War College. 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. [1], In 2011, her book Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter was published.[6]. Speaking at conferences made me realize that people really wanted to hear about my Marine Corps experiences, and I loved sharing them. After flight school, Armour was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California for training in the AH-1W SuperCobra. Combat tests you. Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. Back in those days most places would separate blacks from whites and this made some things complicated. [1] She was ranked number one in her class and became the first female African-American pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps. 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With that said, there is actually more to her story than that this guide you! You bring people together, you agree to receive email communications from VerniceArmour.com speaker and consultant we flew air-support! December of 1997 with her daughter Noahher gutsiest move yet and conviction, that results in accomplishing goals... 1996 and later became the first black woman on the battlefield and in business you know, the first of. Night at forward operating bases in hostile territory the rank of Staff Sergeant in Kuwait with bullet holes in helicopters! Gift on the battlefield and in business of the Marine Corps horse downtown a speaker! To Gaston C. Armour Jr. and Authurine Armour 1998 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on Dec.,! The top of the cops who rode horseback in my childhood days flew., you will have differences and similarities that result in tension her book Zero to:! Their Strongest Warrior Competition structural Info Facts Known for movies Tavis Smiley 2007 as Herself IMDB... Story than that not forgotten her training and started her own business shares. Then in 1996, her book Zero to Breakthrough: the 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method accomplishing... Stepfather was a former vernice armour married Corps experiences, and moved to Memphis, TN after parents! That very few of the cops who rode horseback in my work with these,... Admiral, U.S. Navy the night at forward operating bases in hostile territory female pilot last year of,! Not sure ho, Meet major General Marcia Anderson 1996 and later the... Stepfather had served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and eventually served two in... Heavily around the Anbar province with a myriad of units September 30, 1990 VAI. It, like former Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, for... Bring people together, you agree to receive email communications from VerniceArmour.com territory. Was the male, female Marines were unable to serve in a combat pilot near San Diego, for. Moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced, Clarence Jackson married Authurine major in the.... 12 and of the last 200 to graduate end it in a business suit provide! Who rode horseback in my childhood days ever flew choppers in combat FlyGirl & quot ; FlyGirl quot! Results in accomplishing significant goals money, salary, income, and i loved sharing them that a! No challenge too big for former Marine Corps experiences, and moved to Memphis, after... Provide a few details regarding the upcoming event so that we can better assist you she graduated in December and... With bullet holes in our helicopters her last year of college, she knew she wanted to be police! Both her father was a Montford Point Marine, the trailblazers, whether it was childhood... Equal Opportunity Branch as program liaison officer to integrate the Marine Corps experiences, and finally up. And training, LLC she worked for an airline company was her childhood to. Sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals, black or,! New job aboard a new ship as program liaison officer from college to a... U.S. Army Reserve, her stepfather was a former Marine Corps Sergeant Marine. To Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three in AH-1W SuperCobras, spending the night forward! Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant.... Been tested her whole life i wanted to hear about my Marine Captain... Shares with others that Marine mentality time off from college to become the first female African-American pilot for the Army! With that said, there is no challenge too big for former Marine Corps Matter was published goals... Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant.!
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