The Marine Corps is breaking ground by incorporating the first female infantry Marines, assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The 1^st Battalion, 8^th Marines will be receiving the three women, who will serve as a rifleman, machine gunner, and mortar, respectively. Each woman took part in the branch’s gender integration research and completed the School of Infantry training.

Marine Corps spokesman First Lieutenant John McCombs, with the Second Expeditionary Force, said that the three Marines reported to their unit on Thursday. He also stated that three female officers will assist the new Marines.

“The Corps applauds the time and efforts of those Marines who volunteered. As we continue to move forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that the men and women who earn the title ‘Marine’ will be ready, and will provide America with an elite crisis-response force that is ready to fight and win,” said Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Philip Kulczewski.

With this integration comes much criticism; many are baffled at the idea of women in combat roles, while others feel that it is merely a PR stunt. One of the three Marines, Lance Corporal Callahan Brown, commented on the backlash, “We’re not your normal girls. We’re going to do it. We’re going to preserve. It’s coming, so you can either hop on or get off. But it’s coming.”