Vernice Armour Quotes

In my journey, I have learned that obstacles are opportunities. Acknowledge the obstacles and don't give them power.

Former police officer, former soldier, national guardsmen, Marine officer, diversity officer for headquarters Marine Corps, liaison to the Pentagon for diversity policy for the services,

I didn't step into my first job planning to be America's first, or even joining the military to be the first. After I started the flight test the recruiter said, "Hey, did you know you are going to be the first black female pilot ever in the Marine Corps?"

While in ROTC, I saw a woman in a flight suit,” Armour said. “After that I became very interested in aviation.”

Being a kid, I saw a Black woman in a flight suit, and I was like, 'That's cool, why didn't I think of that?' Armour said. Go for the things you really want in life because tomorrow is not promised.

I realized I could always be a cop, she said. But I didn't always have the chance to be a combat pilot.

My number one goal was to be the best pilot I could be up there in the air to protect and serve my brothers and sisters on the ground,

It was so surreal because you're not shooting at cardboard; you're not shooting at tires and wood, Armour said. There were people on the ground, trying to take us out of the sky to kill us. It was a huge reality check. All the training came into laser-sharp focus.

We were in the Jaff. We were taking out a building that was known to have munitions in it. We were out for a little over an hour. We got a call from the ground controller that said, "Hey, we have some Marines and soldiers pinned down north of the cemetery." At that point, acid bomb exploded in my stomach. Why? Because we had been out for a little less than an hour, so we only had 20 minutes of fuel and one missile left on our aircraft, because we'd already been taking out that target.

I only wanted to be in the Marine Corps, she said. For me, it was the toughest. It was the biggest challenge.

I knew a lot would be riding on my shoulders,” Armour said. “I knew it would be hard. I knew there was a potential that there could be biases out there as well about whether women deserve to be in the Marine Corps, or combat and flying in that platform.

I said, 'What? Are you serious?'

I knew right then my life had changed,” Armour said. “We all knew we would be going somewhere - and soon.”

There is friction all the time in different places,” Armour said. “Friction is natural. When I had friction with someone it could’ve been because I had short hair, I smiled in the morning, I could bench press more than them, I rode a motorcycle, or because I’m a woman, or because I’m black. But honestly, I didn’t care because my number one goal was to focus on the mission and be the best pilot I could be.”

As Clarissa Pinkola Estes said, 'We were made for these times,' and that's exactly how I feel with the perspective of being able to help organizations, people, my friends, my community navigate where we are,