Precision, Pride, and Purpose: Close Order Drill of the First Women Marines

When women began enlisting in the Marine Corps during World War I, there was no time to send them to recruit training. More often than not, the women would begin work almost as soon as they were sworn in. That doesn’t translate to a lack of the infamous Marine Corps discipline their brothers were already known for. Especially in Washington D.C., training was incorporated into the daily lives of the Women Marines.

Every morning at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1918, women Marines could be seen drilling on the parade ground. Just like their male counterparts, they formed ranks, snapped to attention, and practiced the crisp movements of close order drill. Led by male noncommissioned officers, the women learned the same drill movements as their brothers in arms. To passersby, it may have looked like routine practice or like fluff to be used only for public appearances. For Marines, regardless of gender, close order drill means so much more.

Close order drill has always served practical and symbolic purposes. On the practical side, it teaches discipline, sharpens attention to detail, and unifies individuals into a single, cohesive unit. Drill movements are simple in themselves, but the act of doing them in perfect synchronization requires concentration, teamwork, and a willingness to subordinate self to the group.

One of the purposes of close order drill allows for the movement of large groups from one point to another in a form that is efficient and organized. It standardizes how the Marines are expected to move in large or small numbers. Whether on the parade deck in Washington or during morning musters in foreign countries, all Marines know what is expected.

It also provides a means for shifting to combat formations quickly. Teaching attention to spacing, alignment, and quick responsiveness to commands, Marines learn to read their place in relation to others and adjust instantly, skills that translate directly into combat maneuvering.

U.S. Marine Corps University Press. “The U.S. Marines in World War I.” Marine Corps History Winter 2016, accessed August 19, 2025. Image retrieved from U.S. Marine Corps University Press website.

Though the Marines drilling may not realize it in the moment, close order drill also helps to instill discipline. By drilling until movements are automatic, even when tired or distracted. Immediate, sharp responses to commands enforce discipline and group cohesion. A Marine learns to execute orders without hesitation.

Another indirect purpose for close order drill is the opportunity for junior commissioned and noncommissioned officers to gain confidence in commanding troops. They practice giving commands, correcting mistakes, and maintaining control of their Marines, therefore building authority and confidence in their leadership.

Skeptics doubted whether women could embody the same bearing and discipline expected of men. Yet when the women paraded down the street or turned in unison during a ceremony, they demonstrated something that left little room for argument. They demonstrated that they were Marines, trained to the same standard.

Cpl Martha L. Wilchinski, assigned to the Recruiting Publicity Bureau in New York City, marches alongside USS Arizona (BB 39) seagoing Marines when the ship was anchored in the North River (south end of the Hudson River) in late 1918. Defense Department (Marine Corps) 518891

Contemporary accounts suggest that some drill instructors initially viewed the assignment of training women as beneath them. Despite this and to their credit, they didn’t cut corners. They still poured as much of themselves into training the women as they did when training the men. The women were drilled hard, held to precision, and expected to master the same manual of arms and movements. When these women took part in parades and ceremonial duties, their presence was more than symbolic. It was proof that they belonged, that their training and discipline measured up to the expectations of the Corps.