Promotions & Historical Moments.

1961: The first woman Marine is promoted to Sergeant Major.


1974: An Army woman becomes the first woman military helicopter pilot


1978: The first Army woman is promoted to two-star general. She is also the first woman officer to command a major military installation.


1996: The first women in the history of the armed forces are promoted to three-star rank.


1997: The Army promotes its first woman to lieutenant general.


1999: The Air Force promotes its first woman to lieutenant general.


2005: The first woman in history is awarded the Silver Star for combat action. She is one of 14 women in US history to receive the medal.


2008: For the first time in US military history, a woman is promoted to the rank of four-star general. She is promoted by the US Army.

Emotions

This image of a mother and daughter shows more of the inside view of a woman in the service and what she has to give up or leave behind while she serves her country.  Its very touching to see how overwhelmed the mother is to be able to embrace her daughter again. Struggles are tough for anyone who is away from their family, and there are times where Skype and other forms of communication just don't add up to the feeling of being able to hold a loved one once more.

Untitled

Untitled

This sketch shows four women from each branch that will be standing in their dress uniforms, and above each individual will be the crest/logo of their designated branch of service.

Duty.Honor.Country - II

See sketch "Honor.Service.Loyalty - II"

@ July 21, 2011

This is a pink version to look a little more feminine.

Duty.Honor.Country - I

See sketch "Honor.Service.Loyalty - II"

@ July 21,2011

Changed the three words under women from "Honor.Service.Loyalty" to "Duty.Honor.Country", because it is more commonly used among the United States Army. Where as H.S.L was something I wrote.

Honorable Peals - II

See sketch "Honorable Pearls"

@ July 31, 2011

Direction of the project...

After creating rough drafts from stock images, I feel that to continue on I am going to make a slight change in the production of my work. Instead of doing all photoshop and illustrator production, I am going to take photos to create like images to those seen in this blog with materials that I own (uniforms, dog tags, heels, face paint, etc.) and combine the images through photoshop, and indesign for text. The images in the below and above are not what I am going to use for the project because the photos used are not of my own. They are there to show a rough draft of what my work is going to look like based off of the sketches I have been working on.


REMINDER: My project is not based on politics, I have heard that some may think this is the direction that I am trying to follow.  This projects guide lines are based on something that we are passionate about, and to me that it the military.  I do not follow politics or care much for anything about it.  What I intend to do with this project is to show my appreciation for the Armed Services through my work.  Also, to show my inner feelings about who I am as a person awaiting my turn in the United States Military such as: Foot Print, 50/50, and What I See.

Honorable Pearls - I

See sketch "Honorable Pearls"

@ July 31, 2011

Foot Print

See sketch "Foot Print"

@ August 1, 2011

See The Word - II

See sketch "See the Word"

@ August 1, 2011

See The World - I

See sketch "See the Word"

@ August 1, 2011

50/50

See the world

Foot Print

This shows a woman's high heel leaving the impression of a boot print on the ground. It symbolizes the actual visual aspect of the woman's heal, and shows the alternate part of her life through the boot print. I have yet to come up with a saying to go along with this poster yet.  The sketch on the top is pushed to the side to have room to incorporate text. The sketch on the bottom just gives the visual effect without the text.

Honorable Pearls

These two sketches incorporate the material things in life that can be associated with one's feminine side.  I wanted to connect a pearl necklace with the identification tags (dog tags) presented to all military personal.  It is the most important piece of "jewelry" any female could own.  In the top sketch I placed the actual tags onto the end of a pearl necklace to show both the material piece along with the military piece.  On the bottom I have the pearls of the necklace turning from beads to a dog tag chain.  This shows a more closer interaction with the two beings, and a visual of transformation from one to the other.

Uncle Sam's Prospects

This is my female version of Uncle Sam. The soldier on the top has more of a friendly yet feminine aspect about her, and the second sketch plays into the same body language as the original Uncle Sam posters. I did however give the woman on the bottom an inviting look as well with her eye contact and smile, as opposed to the aggressive expression that appears on Uncle Sam's face.

What I See

This is a quick piece I threw together so show one of the sketches that I have been working on. It shows a woman looking into her compact mirror which can usually be found with makeup and such inside, and her reflection is that of a soldier with war paint on her face. I want to show the feminine side on a women interacting with the military version through the stare of the reflection. Though the women is meant to be looking at herself, the reflection shows her gazing out at the viewer. This is to draw in their attention.

Respect

This is the patch that can be seen on friends of ours that also serve in the U.S. Military. I thought it was a very honorable thing to do for the loss of Kevin, and I believe it shows a great deal of respect to him and his family.

This is my replica of the patch that I made on photoshop in the color of the Marine Corps digital desert uniform. I will have this either in my progress book or set out to display during the senior show.

Lance Cpl. Kevin P. Grant

Today I have decided that I am going to dedicate my Senior Seminar project and posters to the memory of my great friend and Marine.

Lance Cpl. Kevin P. Grant

12/30/89 - 05/09/10

He was one of the most down to earth guys I have ever known, and he really knew how to put a smile on any one's face. Kevin and I met because we both played Basketball at our local High School.  Unfortunately, Kevin lost his life while on base in Quantico, Va. during his third year of service.  He dedicated himself to the Marine Corps and was so excited to enlist in 2008 and start his training after graduation.  I remember being with him the day he enlisted, I was there talking to a requiter while he was finishing up paper work.  Kevin was so excited to become a United Stated Marine, and I was so proud of him.  I miss him everyday and he is always on my mind and in my heart.  There will never be a day that I don't think about the good times we've shared and our dedication to the Armed Services. So, with much work to be done on my project and concepts to work with, Kevin will be my motivation to finish and conquer this project. I made this image to honor my friend and I will have it displayed during our senior show. It will be on the inside cover of my progress book.

The Fewer. The Prouder. (sketch)

Another horizontal sketch

Honor.Service.Loyalty - II

Small sketch for a horizontal version of my original Honor.Service.Loyalty poster

For Laughs

A good friend of mine Cpl Amy Stephens

Thought it would be good to show a goofy photo of my friend having a lovely time in training.  She has served four years with the United States Marine Corps and is now married for a fellow Marine.

Honor.Service.Loyalty - I

This is the original poster that spawned my idea and concept for Senior Sem.  I had to create two renditions of one poster and the above version is the one I decided to use. It felt more welcoming and more attractive to the eye than the below poster. These two posters are more so a reality than an image for me because this is my future. Other than Graphic Design, it will be my career. I felt very inspired to make this piece, and I hope others may feel inspired by viewing it. 

Transition

This is one of the images that I am in love with while researching for my Senior Sem. It shows the transformation of the female recruit as she transitions from civilian to soldier.

Not In Our Name.

Only we can liberate ourselves.

Women Marines: "The Fewer. The Prouder."

Laughing at Clouds

By: Roger Peet

PTSD: Operation Exposure

By: Nicholas Lampert

Deviant Art user: Party9999999

This poster does a great job of evoking emotions which is what I also like to do with my work, but the emotions I feel when viewing this are not so subtle. The U.S. does not attack other Countries for no reason. There are reasons and issues for one nation to enter another. Many people need to look into the information provided in historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to understand that the U.S. has given an agreement to protect those of other Countries when called upon to do so, by said Country.  Sometimes it amazes me to see how many individuals do not know or understand the documents and treaties presented and signed between our country and others.  In this day and age, it is a requirement that students that a test on the U.S. Constitution in order to graduate Elementary and Secondary education classes, so how are some of these facts not know? 

U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps

This is the kind of feeling a promotional poster should give to women:

It should empower them and show the women looking positive and important. It also shows that their help is needed by the use of incorporating the information on nursing. It shows them that they are needed as well and that it is a serious issue not having one to help with wounded soldiers and others. The poster also gives the information of FREE education, and in all seriousness education is not easy to come by in any age. This poster plays into three different aspects: the positive look of women, what is needed of one in service, and what will be given to the for service.

War Is Not The Way

Deviant Art user: Zulto

This poster is about war, and how it is not always the best way to go about things, of course violence is not the answer, but in many situations the U.S. has been retaliating for attacks carried out on American soil. There are some times where "turning the other cheek" or "just walking away" are not going to settle these problems. This artist is obviously going for the answer of Peace and non-violence, but it takes more then just one party to carry out these actions. To have peace all people must be willing to react in positive manners to one another, and looking at this day and age, we are far from it. With many different beliefs, religions, and traditions there is to much tension between all populations to make peace with one another. There will always a stubborn individual(s) who will places themselves above other and feel that they are "right" in every situation.  This can be found in even the simplest places, such as someones home - in a small augment between siblings or an adult and child.  If this habit cannot be broken in our own homes, who would think it can be changed in places such as countries? I agree with the statement to "dream big" but to have to start little to accomplish your dreams.

US Military Interventions Since WWII

By: Josh MacPhee

MacPhee decides to take the route of creating a poster series of places the United States has bombed, but fails to inform viewers of why these bombs were dropped. I have taken a class on the nuclear age and know that many of the bombs created and dropped were tests, as well as in deserted areas. Even that some of the bombs shown here are not even nuclear they are bombs the resemble those dropped on the U.S. during the Pearl Harbor attacks.

War Is Trauma

By: Jesse Purcell

This poster is about the Trauma cause to the veterans of Military affairs and how they are forced to go back into service despite their condition. This is why more civilians need to support our troops and enlist in or contribute the military in general, to save our vets from these kinds of situations. If less and less people decide to support and contribute time to our military, those who are already in the service are kept to pick up the gap. Which means that their chances or retirement are slim. There are many cases or soldiers being stop lossed*, based on poor enlistment percentages, which deprives them of the right to retire. To solve this problem of redeployment and reintroducing trauma struck soldiers to combat, the US needs more people to step up and defend their home.  No one wants to see out veterans reintroduced to combat, they have paid their dues and deserve to be welcomed home with respect and honor, not taken away from their homes.  The military has no other choice but to redeploy these service men and women. If there is no enough personnel to fill the gap veterans and others suffer.  Essentially, the more military personnel the United States has tours can be divided more evenly between younger and more experienced soldiers to decrease and eventually dispose of this issue, and to ensure no trauma induced vet ever has to see the battle field again.

*Stop-loss: the involuntary extension of a service member's active duty service under the enlistment contract in order to retain them beyond their initial end of term of service (ETS) date and up to their contractually agreed and of obligated service (EOS). It is also applied to the cessation of a permanent change in station (PCS) move for a member still in service.