By Daniel Guevarra

July 17, 2009, President Obama today climbed onboard his awaiting helicopter, Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House to be taken to Andrews Air Force Base were he later will meet with Democratic Governor Jon Corzine and will address the 100th anniversary convention of the NAACP in New York City. 

This flight was a historic flight as the pilot Major Jennifer Grieves of Glendale Arizona, co-pilot Major Jennifer Marino, of Palisade, Colorado,  Sergeant Rachael Sherman, of Traverse City, Michigan, were all Marine Corps women. This historic flight marked the first time that a women pilot had flown as Marine One and in addition this event marked the first time for an all female crew on Marine One. 

Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D or the newer, smaller VH-60N "WhiteHawk". Both were due to be replaced by the VH-71 Kestrel, a derivative of the AgustaWestland EH101 but funding for the project was canceled in April 2009. A Marine Corps aircraft carrying the Vice President has the call sign Marine Two. Marine Corps aircraft carrying the family of the President adds the designator F to have its callsign become Marine One Foxtrot. Those carrying the family of the Vice President use the callsign Marine Two Foxtrot.

Grieves, 38, joined the Marines 20 years ago in her hometown of Glendale, Arizona.