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U.S. Marine Corps. Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds on the performance-based culture of the Marine Corps.
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Military can be a tough environment for anybody.
Especially a woman.
But in a groundbreaking move brigadier general Lori Reynolds just became the first woman ever to take charge of the Marine Corps recruit depot Parris island.
And this isn't the only time she's made history she's also the first female marine to ever hold the command position.
In a -- so that was in Afghanistan she joins us now -- welcome great to see you yankees missed you.
Well you know the first thought when I -- your story was why the Marines why not that army that -- you could have done anything that you chose the Marines -- well it I want to.
-- academy graduated in 86 and down.
I didn't really come from a military family so my first impression they're at the Naval Academy was that those marine officers that I saw there.
That's what I wanted to do I wanted to be like them and so hearing and equipment usually.
It's it's supposed to be one of the toughest assignments you can get that you've embrace it.
And as we said at the top here you were in Afghanistan Afghanistan commanding post in the battle zone.
Did you think of yourself as a ground breaker then.
I did not and you know that assignment came just as a matter of my assignment might.
Command assignment there is the -- quarters group commander so.
I don't think any of us.
Thought that that was anything special was just what my job required me to do.
And I have I hear that a lot from people -- service is just what my job required me to do I was just following orders.
Tell -- what it was like being there we think that the Afghanistan as as I really tough assignment what are your reflections on it now that you're back for what six months or something like that you have got back in March.
Well I think a tremendous amount of good work happened over there in Afghanistan in the in the year that we were there.
What -- my reflections.
Safest place for marine to be is around other Marines so.
For me.
You know was it was satisfying to see accomplishments that that my Marines.
Had what we were there.
And I'm I'm glad we did it.
So what is your you know you're a manager you run like 4000 people that's a big management job -- my point of view.
As a woman how do you do that does -- make a difference and do you think your styles any different for many other.
-- -- -- I I don't.
You know the Marine Corps is a performance based culture if you can.
If you can hang.
If you can then meet the standard of you can exceed the standard if you can -- your -- -- performance succeed you're gonna make it and -- that's how my career has gone do you think that the rest of the country could learn a lesson from that performance driven going for the results.
I do I do I think the record as a -- anybody.
If you are if you meet the standard.
If you're willing to work hard if you're willing to drive your Marines to work hard.
I'm gonna do OK in -- -- -- And do you feel like you're in an environment that encourages women I mean or did they just pay any attention to it at all so that a marine is -- marine is -- -- -- all left rifleman firsts and again you get you get treated the wages are to be treated with dignity and respect and a and that's been my experience.
I don't know how come from we feel talking about this but there's conversations in Washington about possibly.
Not cutting some of the benefits to service families and I wonder how you feel about that you've seen Marines in action you've been with them -- led them -- leading them now.
Is that fair is that something that should happen as we face fourteen trillion dollars in debt.
I think breaking faith with our military families would be a bad thing to do they give and sacrifice more than the American people.
We should not replace them.
So what's next thing you're gonna do.
You've already got this incredible post.
Do you have ambitions said to go to Washington know what's what's your next step.
You know I am going to value every day that I have in command.
I'm gonna just enjoy.
Serving with these Marines and whatever happens happens.
While -- great to have you here really enjoyed talking with you thanks for sharing your story.
I know there are a lot of little girls out -- probably say can -- that and you just inspired but thank you so much thank you thanks for having me.
