Female Marines Conduct 1st Afghan Mission

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Female Marines Conduct 1st Afghan Mission
March 10, 2009
Marine Corps News

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment -- the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan -- now have a special group of people to help them complete their mission in Afghanistan.

The task force’s all-female Marine team is interacting with the Afghan female population in southern Afghanistan -- a task considered culturally unacceptable for the male Marines operating there.

A similar program has been used in combat operations in Iraq, but this is the first time Marine forces in Afghanistan have employed the concept, officials said.

Marine Corps Capt. Mike Hoffman, commanding officer of 3/8’s Company I, said the all-female team is an important asset for his Marines.

“(The team) provides us access to half of the population that we normally do not have access to,” Hoffman said. “They did extremely well interacting with the female villagers.”


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-corps-news/female-marines-conduct-1st-afghan-mission.html?col=1186032366495