Recruitment of women Marines in the ’70s

This recruitment film, produced for the U.S. Marine Corps by Dallas-based Bill Stokes Associates, portrays the recruitment and training process for women in the Marines. The film starts with “Susie Smalltown” who joins the Marines for the “glamorous uniform”. The viewer then witnesses the transformation that takes place for women recruits during basic training and…

Our History – Our Service

By Rosa Osborn In 2010, as a warrant officer and several years in the Marine Corps, I thought I knew it all. I knew the history of the Marine Corps. We all do. I didn’t discover just how little I knew until 2010 while attending the WMA Convention in Denver. I was not only amazed…

Rosa Osborn

Julia Hamblet Awardee WMA extends congratulations to WMA Member Rosa Osborn as the 2022 recipient of the Julia Hamblet Award. I want to take this opportunity to announce the recipient of the Julia E. Hamblet Award as our own, Rosa Osborn, for her extraordinary efforts in the preservation of the history of women Marine uniforms…

Rev. Melinda Townsend

WMA Mational Chaplain Melinda Townsend was born in Denver, CO and raised primarily in the north-central area of New Mexico (Española, Santa Fe and Taos).  She spent 3 years living in Aguascalientes Mexico as a teenager giving her a wonderful cross-culture living experience and fluency in Spanish.  She graduated from St. Michael’s High School in…

Mary Palazzolo WMA Member of the Week

Mary Palazzolo is a life member of WMA joining first with the Motor City Chapter located in Michigan in the late 70’s. Her career started with 8A 1974 at Parris Island, SC WRTC. After active duty she joined the Marine Corps Reserves serving at Broadhead Naval Amory in Detroit and in Lansing. In 1990 she…

WMA Meet Our Member

Roberta “Randy” Tidmore Randy was one of 18,000 women who joined the Marines by that year. While comprising just 4 percent of the Marines, women worked as clerks, mechanics, and aerial gunnery instructors, among other jobs, and they helped pave the way for more than 1 million women who have since served in the U.S.…

WMA Member of the Week

Bettie Glassey Life Member WA-3 Bettie Glassey was nominated by Peggy Reiber. Reiber states: I would like to nominate Bettie Glassey, WA-3 President as our member of the week. She has been a life member of WMA and has served as President for WA-3 for over 10 years. In addition to all she does for…

The Importance of Belonging to WMA

By: Valerie Johnson When I joined the Women Marine Association, it brought a new form of life to me Valerie Johnson In 1984, something spectacular happened, I became one of the 8% women called the United States Marines. I am the daughter of two very loving parents who expect nothing less except excellence from me.…

Viva Las Vegas

Exploring Our Las Vegas Convention The excitement is building as we continue to bring you another fantastic convention. The convention team is working hard to assure that your 2022 convention experience is among your top trips this year. On the 29th you can start checking in and then take a minute to say hello at…

WMA – A New Look – UPDATED

As you know WMA has been working on bringing our association a fresh new look. You voiced your opinion and WMA listened. As you can see we changed the red color to reflect our Marine Corps heritage. For our chapters/members that have questions here are a few facts. If you have other questions that are…