Female US Marine Makes History

 

The life story of Private First Class Maria Daume is very different from anyone else in the United States Marines.

She was born in a prison in Siberia. Her parents died when she was two years old.

Two years later, she was adopted by Americans. They agreed to take Maria in and treat her as their own child. She moved to the United States, and was raised in New York.

Last week, the 19-year-old Maria Daume made history. She completed special training at the Marine¹ School of Infantry² in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Daume has done what many people said a woman would never do. She is the first female Marine to join the infantry through the traditional entry-level training process. The system was opened to women just six months ago.

Daume told VOA she knows what she did was historic.

“I like to prove people wrong and just because you are a female doesn’t mean you can’t do what a male can do.”

The Mortar³ Marine class that she completed is one of the most difficult in the Marines. And Marine officials say it is becoming even more difficult.

Marine Sargent Matthew Schneider was one of Daume’s instructors⁵. He says Daume was a good student.

“She was right at the top of the pack.”

To pass the training, Daume climbed a 142 centimeter-high wall while carrying all of her equipment. She had to lift a 36 kilogram MK19 heavy machine gun above her head. And she had to complete other gun exercises and skill tests.

The completion of Daume’s training came at the same time as a scandal has hit the U.S. Marine Corps⁶.

A private Facebook group called “Marines United” has been linked to photographs of military women on social media. The photos show the women wearing little or no clothing.

Tens of thousands of Marines and retired⁷ Marines reportedly belonged to the Facebook group. Their posts often had sexist, derogatory comments. Some even talked about rape⁸ and molestation¹⁰.

The Naval¹¹ Criminal Investigative Service has launched an investigation¹², which has reportedly spread to other U.S. military services.

General Robert Neller is the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He told members of Congress this month that he was shocked and angered when he heard about the Facebook group. He said some members of the group appeared to “have forgotten that every member of our team is an equal and valued member of our Corps.”

“How much more do the females of our Corps have to do to be accepted? We all have to commit to getting rid of this perversion¹³ to our culture. Enough is enough!”

Experts hope Private First Class Daume’s success will persuade more women to join the Marines despite the scandal.

Katherine Kidder is with the Military, Veterans and Society Program of the Center for a New American Security.

“This may be the way to bridge the gap and bring more women into the infantry, and therefore make them feel like colleagues with their infantry counterparts.”

The U.S. Marines now have four women serving in the infantry. Three are based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Daume and four Marines who completed their infantry training at the same time are now based at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, California.

Words in This Story

adopt – v. to take a child of other parents legally as your own child

infantry – n. the part of an army that has soldiers who fight on foot

instructor⁴ – n. a person who teaches a subject or skill; someone who instructs people

pack – n. a group of similar people or things

scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong

derogatory – adj. expressing a low opinion of someone or something; showing a lack of respect for someone or something

molest⁹ – v. to harm (someone) through sexual contact; to touch (someone) in a sexual and improper¹⁴ way

perversion – n. sexual behavior that people think is not normal or natural

bridge the gap – expression to make a bridge over or across (something) -- usually used figuratively

counterpart – n. someone or something that has the same job or purpose as another

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

3 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

4 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

5 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

6 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

9 molest   

vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏

参考例句：

• If the man continues to molest her,I promise to keep no measures with the delinquent.如果那人继续对她进行骚扰，我将对他这个违法者毫不宽容。
• If I were gone,all these would molest you.如果没有我，这一切都会来骚扰你。

10 molestation   

n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨

参考例句：

• Michael Jackson is arrested by police on charges of child molestation. 2003年的今天，迈克尔·杰克逊因被警方指控有儿童性骚扰行为而被捕。 来自互联网
• Jackson pleads not guilty on the molestation charges. 2004年：杰克逊认罪不认罪的性骚扰指控。 来自互联网

11 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

12 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

13 perversion   

n.曲解；堕落；反常

参考例句：

• In its most general sense,corruption means the perversion or abandonment.就其最一般的意义上说，舞弊就是堕落，就是背离准则。
• Her account was a perversion of the truth.她所讲的歪曲了事实。

14 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。