For former Columbia resident Susan Seaman, it only took her two weeks at the U.S. Naval Academy for her to know she wanted to be in the Marine Corps — despite, at the time, not knowing exactly what the Marines did.
Her commissioning in 1989 has led her up a ladder of leadership that few female Marines have reached. She is currently one of 22 female active duty colonels in the entire Marine Corps. And on Aug. 29, she assumed duties as commanding officer for the Marine Corps Forces Command Headquarters and Service Battalion at Camp Allen, in Norfolk, Va.
But Seaman's journey to Virginia, where she now lives with her husband, retired French Marine Col. Henri Bore, and her 4-month-old daughter, Eloise, began in Columbia.
Seaman, 44, moved to Stevens Forest from Bowie in 1971 at the age of 5. One of four sisters, she attended Stephens Forest Elementary School, Dunloggin Middle School and Oakland Mills High School for ninth grade, before transferring to the McDonogh School, in Owings Mills, for grades 10-12.
"I remember the bike paths, the schools all being very close, the pools, my friends. I just remember everything being very accessible and a great place for a kid to grow up," Seaman said about Columbia.
"Our houses (backed up) to each other and our backyards, that was our playground. We were in everybody's yard running around," Seaman said. "What I've always been impressed about is that they've been very careful to maintain a balance of suburban living and corporate businesses," she said, who returns to the community every few months to visit two of her sisters who still live in Columbia. "They've been very smart about the property they have and kept it inviting in the fact that it's a planned community. It's a lovely place to visit; it's almost like a fairy tale in some ways."
Through her years as a swimmer for Columbia Aquatics and on her neighborhood's team, Seaman occasionally would swim at the U.S. Naval Academy, in Annapolis, for meets. Her exposure to the campus, combines with her sense of independence and desire to put herself to school that made her seek a nomination to attend.
"When I was growing up, I couldn't image the life of a military person being wholesome and meaningful," she said.
She received a nomination of support from then-Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and "by the grace of God I got in," Seaman said. "I didn't think I had a chance."
Following her graduation and commissioning in May 1989, Season attended The Basic School, in Quantico, Va., where she chose to pursue becoming an adjunct and manpower officer — the equivalent of working in the human resources department in the civilian world. She serves as the commanding officer of the unit she's assigned to, handling the pay, awards, directives and other administrative functions for the commanding officer and leading the Marines who also work in the department.
It was in Basic School that she met Anne Weinberg, of Burke, Va., now an intelligence officer for the Department of Defense. The two were at one time in the same platoon and have been roommates on numerous occasions, including during their time in Iraq in support of Operation Desert Storm.
Changing face of the Marine Corps
Despite being part of an organization that is rich in tradition, Seaman said she's seen the dynamics of it changed during her two decades of service, particularly how women are perceived and treated.
"When we first went into the Naval Academy, there weren't as many women. But this generation has grown," Seaman said. "Kids have seen their mothers working and seen (them working) much more as a way of life."
"The young men and women who join the military, it's not such a novelty (being a woman), and that just erases a lot of problems you used to have earlier on. They're not questioning where you belong."
To Seaman, she never considered her gender having any impact on what she does.
"It never bothered me. Yeah, I know I'm in a boy's club, but I'm pretty adaptable and don't expect them to change for me. I thought I wasn't going to make it past five years, but just thought to myself, 'Just do your best.'"
"She's one of the finest officers I've ever worked with," Weinberg said. "She's a leader that's fair, firm and everything you would want in a good boss in the civilian world." Weinberg believes Seaman transcends everything that comes with being a female in a predominantly male environment.
"She's one of 22 female active duty colonels in the entire Marine Corps," Weinberg said. "From her peers, you never hear anyone speaking poorly of her. She's deserved what she's gotten (and) viewed in the shiniest, best of light. … She's a good, solid, salt-of-the-earth person."
"From day one, I've always been treated equally," Seaman said. "It's always been that you're treated based on what you do, not your race or gender. The military is a true meritocracy in that way. I take it for granted now, but I wasn't expecting that at first. It's all in how you handle the situation … and very matter-of-factly deal with it and move on. The military is very good about getting that across. I know it's a model for society."
Through her years, Seaman has steadily moved up the ranks, having even served as the military aide to the commandant of the Marine Corps. "She's been chosen to do really great things because she is really great," Weinberg said.
Looking ahead
Seaman said her long-term future in the Corps remains uncertain. "I'll stay in as long as I'm enjoying it and its been meaningful. I love it and the people I work with. I don't know how much longer I'm going to stay, but at least three more years."
However, Seaman is grateful for the years behind her.
"I got to see the world," she said, about her travels to Korea, Japan, Germany, Israel and Australia. "I work with some of the most true Americans who are very proud of what we do," Seaman said. "We will not let the Marine on our right or left down. We will not do it. That's what makes the military organization strong. We don't want to let a buddy down. That creates such a force that you can go very far with. You can do anything with that."
She said each tour has helped shape her into the respected leader she's become.
"It's been an incredible experience, I've worked my butt off. One of the best tours I ever had was 6 months and when we came back … I think I was the only female officer supporting (the unit) at that time."
"And that really formed me as a young officer. Since then, my mind has always been, 'Am I ready to go to combat right now? Are we ready to do what the nation needs us to do today? Is our marksmanship done, are we mentally prepared? Can we take our duties, pack them up immediately and get over there and get it done?' "
"We miss our families, friends and American life, but that's where we want to be. We move to the sound of the guns. We feel we're not doing our part when we're back in the U.S."
"We all love what we do, no question about that. We're proud of what we do. We're the lucky ones because we have a job now, and we talk about that a lot. We understand the rest of the country is struggling. We hope what we do will help things so we can turn things around in this country."
"We have a way of life in our country, and we're here to defend that."