Photos: Black Women in the Military

See photos of these Black women pioneers in the military.

First Lieutenant Nancy C. Leftenant - In 1948, First Lieutenant Nancy C. Leftenant became the first Black person to become a member of the Regular Army Nurse Corps. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Air Force)

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First Lieutenant Nancy C. Leftenant - In 1948, First Lieutenant Nancy C. Leftenant became the first Black person to become a member of the Regular Army Nurse Corps. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Air Force)

Captain Clara Adams-Ender - Captain Clara Adams-Ender became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Army in 1967. In 1976, she also became the first woman in the Army to earn a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Army)

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Captain Clara Adams-Ender - Captain Clara Adams-Ender became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Army in 1967. In 1976, she also became the first woman in the Army to earn a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Army)

Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown - In 1979, Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown became the first Black woman to be general officer and the first Black Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Army)

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Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown - In 1979, Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown became the first Black woman to be general officer and the first Black Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Army)

Irene Trowell-Harris - Irene Trowell-Harris was the first Black woman to become a general officer in the National Guard, in 1987. (Photo: Courtesy National Guard)

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Irene Trowell-Harris - Irene Trowell-Harris was the first Black woman to become a general officer in the National Guard, in 1987. (Photo: Courtesy National Guard)

La’Shanda Holmes - Lt. JG La'Shanda Holmes became the Coast Guard’s first female African-American helicopter pilot in April 2010. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)

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La’Shanda Holmes - Lt. JG La'Shanda Holmes became the Coast Guard’s first female African-American helicopter pilot in April 2010. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)

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Danyell Wilson - In 1997, Sergeant Danyell Wilson became the first Black woman to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Army)

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Danyell Wilson - In 1997, Sergeant Danyell Wilson became the first Black woman to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Army)

Lillian Fishburne - Rear Admiral Lillian Fishburne became the first Black female promoted to flag rank in 1998. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Navy)

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Lillian Fishburne - Rear Admiral Lillian Fishburne became the first Black female promoted to flag rank in 1998. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Navy)

Vernice Armour - In 2001, Captain Vernice Armour was acknowledged by the Department of Defense as the first African-American female combat pilot in the military to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Marines)

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Vernice Armour - In 2001, Captain Vernice Armour was acknowledged by the Department of Defense as the first African-American female combat pilot in the military to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Marines)

Monica J. Dixon - A Multi-National Corps–Iraq chaplain sergeant major, Monica Dixon became the first female chaplain assistant to achieve jumpmaster status in 2008. A jumpmaster is someone who oversees paratroopers or other parachutists as they jump out of an airplane. (Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Army)

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Monica J. Dixon - A Multi-National Corps–Iraq chaplain sergeant major, Monica Dixon became the first female chaplain assistant to achieve jumpmaster status in 2008. A jumpmaster is someone who oversees paratroopers or other parachutists as they jump out of an airplane. (Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Army)

Teresa King - In 2009, Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King became the first female commandant at the Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. (Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Army)

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Teresa King - In 2009, Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King became the first female commandant at the Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. (Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Army)

Marcelite Harris - Major General Marcelite Harris became the first Black woman to be promoted to major general in the United States Air Force in 1995. (Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Air Force)

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Marcelite Harris - Major General Marcelite Harris became the first Black woman to be promoted to major general in the United States Air Force in 1995. (Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Air Force)