Longest Serving Marine to Retire
Longest-serving active duty Marine to retire after 42 years
“To say that I came in and saw so much progress for Marines, and especially female Marines, over my time … it hits me really hard.”
Drew F. Lawrence
When Lt. Col. Rhonda C. Martin was 19 years old, she unintentionally walked into a Marine recruiting office on her way to join the Peace Corps.
More than four decades later, she is the longest-serving active duty Marine, according to a service press release last week, and is set to celebrate her retirement at the end of the month.
She began her 42-year career as an administrative specialist, going on to serve as a drill instructor — though women were not allowed to don the iconic campaign cover at the time — before earning a commission as an officer in 1996.
She deployed multiple times, including in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and throughout her career, she both witnessed and took part in the Corps’ institutional changes, especially as it slowly allowed women into more roles within the service.
“To say that I came in and saw so much progress for Marines, and especially female Marines, over my time … it hits me really hard,” Martin said, according to the press release.
She reflected on her experiences and some of those changes, having been in the Corps since women were first permitted to qualify with the M16A2 on the recruit rifle range in 1985, all the way through to the Defense Department decision to lift its ban on women serving in direct combat roles more than twenty years later.
“It’ll be tough, but I’ve had 42 years of doing what I love, and I’m leaving at a time when the Marine Corps is stronger than ever,” she said.
Amazing story and best wishes in her new civilian endeavors. Thanks to a Usual Suspect for the link.
Category: Bravo Zulu, Marine Corps
Respect.
Fair winds and following seas in your future endeavors, Ma’am.
She better make sure that they don’t put her down for Officer of The Day next month.
Devine intervention to serve in the Marine Corps.
Is it too late to join the Peace Corps.
There, but for the Grace of God, walking through the “wrong” door…..
Well done. Enjoy your well-earned retirement.
I got questions.
Firstly how is she still smiling after 42 years in the Corps? My dad only did 21 years and I never saw him smile a day in his life.
Well done good and faithful Marine.
Can The Corps afford to lose this badass?
Gotta question the statement about women DI’s not being allowed to wear the DI Campain Cover “back then”. I went to Parris Island in the summer of 1981 and the few times we did cross paths with the female recruits of the 4th Battalion; I saw the female DI’s all wearing the same cover as the male DIs wore. Unless of course my 64-year-old mind has turned to mush and depleted my memory.
The article is correct. When I was assigned to 4th Battalion in 1995, the female DI where not wearing campaign covers.
Hell of a hitch there. Congrats and well done LTC.
I’m aware that in the Army there is a specific time frame for Officers. IIRC 28 years max for LTC / Col and 32 years for General rank. I believe there is some leeway for certain specialties like Medicine / Doctors. The Marines must not have that same guideline.
Jarheads probably ain’t required to retire as long as they got enough teeth left to chew their crayons. :^)
HOOAH !!!!!