VOA常速英语:军中儿女多奇志，不爱红妆爱戎装

From boot camp to graduation, Private First Class Maria Daume has done what many naysayers said a woman would never do.

“Just want to shake her hand.”“Thank you.”“You know, you’re part of history, you know that, right? And that’s amazing.”

She’s the first female Marine to join the Infantry through the traditional entry-level training process,a process only made available to women just a half-year earlier.

“I like to prove people wrong.And just because you are female doesn’t mean you cannot do what male can do.”

Navigating through woods, sleeping outdoors and carrying back-breaking load are par for the course at this School of Infantry.

Instructor and Mortar Marine Sergeant Matthew Schneider said not only did Daume graduate, she often made things look easy.

“She was right at the top of the pack.”

Her arrival at the Infantry comes as a scandal has rout the core.A private Facebook group called “Marines United” shared links to nude photos of military women with new links urging them to post only the quote —— nastiest images.

Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Neller told lawmakers he is disgusted.

“How much more do the females of our Corps have to do to be accepted?We all have to commit to get rid of this perversion to our culture, enough is enough.”

Daume just wants to keep moving forward.

“It kind of just gives me more motivation to show them that we can do it and just watch.”Her mother sees young woman who inspires her.An expert hopes her success will persuade more women to join despite the current scandal.

“This may be the way to bridge the gap and bring more women to the Infantry,and therefore make them feel like colleagues with their Infantry counterparts.”

Daume says to her peers here in Camp Lejeune, she wasn’t Daume, the female, she was just Daume. She and four of fellow graduates were off to California where they hope to blaze new trails together in a place she’s never been.

Report in Camp Lejeune, I’m Carla Babb, VOA news.