Vernice Armour Quotes

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

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.

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,

I was at an event for young girls in STEM in Chicago. It was an Army Air Guard base, and I went into the flight equipment room, just to say hi. And there were these patches on the equipment table that had “FlyGirl” on them. And I said, “What?! Can I have one?” And they said, “Absolutely.”

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

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?"

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.

Until we come face to face with what are we really doing and how do we transition into a new time, the same things are going to continue to happen,

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.”

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

We have to start with a conversation where we're actually listening to each other, again, not fault, but how do we move forward into solutions,

The Marine Corps prepared the platform for my purpose,”

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, Armour said. We're one, so how are we making a difference and making an impact?

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.