HISTORY
Drill Instructors
1976
Scarlet Epaulets
Female Drill Instructors Granted admission to attend the Drill Instructor Academy and upon Graduation, received scarlet epaulets. Above Sergeant Valerie Shields wears the scarlet epaulets.
September 13, 1996
Campaign Cover
Female Drill Instructors Scarlet Cord No More.
December 16, 2020
Women Graduate from San Diego
Sergeant Stephanie Fahl, Sergeant Ikea Kaufman, Sergeant Stephanie Jordi, made Marine Corps history by becoming the first females to graduate from a gender-integrated drill instructor course at Recruit Depot San Diego.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps announced through ALMAR 327/96 (All Marine) Administrative Message on 13 September 1996, and effective immediately, the campaign cover was authorized. In the same message it also announced that the wear of the scarlet shoulder cord was no longer authorized.
On 1 October 1996, Fourth Recruit Training Bn. Sergeant Major Royce S. Restivo, places a campaign cover on one of the 53 female drill instructors on hand at the scarlet cord retirement ceremony in the Parris Island Lyceum October 2. The final scarlet shoulder cord, the previous symbol of a female DI, was given to retired CWO-2 Phyllis Alexander, former female DI, for placement in the Parris Island Museum.
For the first time in nearly 100 years, an integrated company of male and female recruits at MCRD San Diego are about to begin their journey into becoming Marines.
These future Marines will be led by graduates from MCRD's first ever integrated Drill Instructor Course. Now the mission of the course is to screen, train, and further develp leadership and command presence of selected Marines, in order to successfully perform duties of a drill instructor.
Pending
Pending.