
This speech was sent to us from Kuwait by Lieutenant Colonel Jess Mullen, USMC. While the video quality may be poor, the message is strong (but you have to turn your volume up!).
LtCol Mullen graduated from Vanderbilt University and was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1998. A Logistics Officer, she served in a variety of active duty billets until she transitioned to the reserves in 2008. She is currently deployed as the Sustainment Liaison Officer for MCE-K (MARCENT Coordination Element – Kuwait).
“There is an obstacle placed in my path…I want to jump on it, I want to attack it, I want to make it my own, and I want to pound it into powder.”
“Honestly, as a female Marine, any time I’ve heard the words ‘female’ and ‘Marine’ next to the other, it’s either been a door slamming in my face, or some unwanted attention. It has very rarely been a good thing.”
“‘What is your mission? Why are you here? Where are you going?'”
“This is not cute – this is truth. This is the next generation, who may be sitting in these same seats 20 or 30 years from now.”
“We’re not just women of America; we’re women of the world.”
“Use your vote, and use it wisely. People have worked hard for that stuff – you should exercise it!”
“My husband and I are both United States Marines. When people tell us we can’t do something…we just go ahead and do it anyway!”