Long Shooting, Leading, and LAV's
by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr. May 30,
2020
Even with the official integrated of women serving in combat
roles put in place by the U.S. Military in 2013, there are still
numerous Military Occupational Specialties in the Marine Corps that
are male dominated. Beating the odds, one Marine surpassed the
expectations of her billet, rank, and unit.
U.S. Marine Corps
Capt. Nicholle Miller, the intelligence officer with 2d Light
Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (LAR), 2d Marine Division (MARDIV),
earned recognition from the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF)
command staff and a spot in 2d MARDIV history as the first female
officer to serve with any LAR battalion in the Marine Corps.

May 6, 2020 - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Nicholle Miller, the
intelligence officer for 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance
Battalion (LAR), 2d Marine Division poses for a photo on top
of a Light Armored Vehicle-25 at Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina. Miller is the first female officer to serve with an LAR unit in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.)
|
“I don't think of myself as the first female anything,” said
Miller. “I'm just another officer. I'm here to do a job and support
my battalion as best I can.”
A native of San Francisco,
California, Miller always wanted to join the military. She applied
for a scholarship through Oregon State University's Naval Reserve
Officer Corps Program when she decided to join the Marine Corps, and
she soon began her studies towards a Bachelor of Science degree as a
sociology major.
“When I spoke to recruiters from other
services, they didn't have the same enthusiasm about what they did
or the service that they joined,” recalled Miller . “I didn't feel
the same draw to them as I did to the Marine Corps.”
After
commissioning in 2013, Miller served as an air intelligence officer
with Marine Air Group (MAG) 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing until 2018
when she checked into 2d LAR. While serving with 2d LAR, she
participated in numerous field exercises and a deployment with
Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force- Crisis Response Africa
where she took part in Operation Oak and Steel, gathering and
managing intelligence for day-to-day operations.
“A lot of
what I do as an intelligence officer is training and getting Marines
ready to go out and support whatever mission they're a part of,”
said Miller. “Another part of what intel does in the field is
collecting data from recon missions and telling the commanders where
the enemy is so they get a better battlespace picture.”
Aside
from her intelligence skills, Miller made a name for herself in
long-shot marksmanship as well. In 2018, she and the MAG 26 shooting
team won the Wirgman Trophy for small unit marksmanship excellence
at the Eastern Division Competition. This earned her team a spot on
the Eastern Division Rifle Team where they won the Inter-Division
Rifle Team Trophy. From there, Miller received an invitation to
augment the Marine Corps Shooting Team for their summer season but
had to turn down the opportunity due to an upcoming deployment.
“It was a tremendous opportunity and I had a blast,” Miller
noted. “I believe that if you do what you love, you'll never work a
day in your life.”
Miller intends to serve her country as
long as she finds fulfillment in her daily work, but eventually
plans to become a security manager in the civilian sector.
“I
plan on staying in until I stop having fun, and I’m still having
fun,” said Miller with a smile. “The feeling I get when I can help a
Marine and get them to where they need to be is unmatched.”
Miller motivates herself through the pride she has in her work and
the motivation of her Marines. Her work in intelligence systems
earned her a challenge coin and recognition from Lt. Gen. Brian D.
Beaudreault, the commanding general of II MEF. Similarly, she
motivates her Marines by caring for their wellbeing and ensuring
they are mission ready at all times.
“I have a strict
open-door policy that if a Marine needs to talk, I never say no,”
said Miller. “If a Marine is overloaded and stressed, I'll give them
the day, and the rest of the Marines will divide and conquer the
work they needed to get done that day. I’ll move mountains to help
my Marines.”
Between her performance at work, on the range,
and in the field, Miller contributes an exceptional amount of
readiness to the Marines of 2d LAR and continues to excel in every
aspect of her Marine Corps career. Regardless of being the first
female officer in LAR, she is determined to make history again and
again.
“At the end of the day, I’m here to be a Marine
officer,” Miller said sincerely. “I’m here to lead Marines, nothing
else.”
The U.S. Marines |
Marines - The Few, The Proud |
Our Valiant Troops |
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us
U.S. Marines Gifts |
U.S. Marine Corps |
U.S.
Department of Defense
|
|