Lioness Program Prowls the Iraqi Borders

The Lioness Program is a 30-day rotation that gives female Marines of various military occupational specialties (MOS) the chance to train and work with the infantry. The Marines that are selected for the program are trained in procedures including personnel search techniques. The Muslim culture is very strict about physical contact between men and women. The insurgents try to take advantage of this by using women to smuggle weapons and money. The Lioness Program aims to put a stop to that by having the female Marines search them. The Marines are also trained in how to shoot from supported firing positions for proper fields of fire if necessary. This is in keeping with the tradition that every Marine is a basic rifleman first.