A Garrettsville, OH native who excelled in track & field at James A. Garfield High School has translated her skills to rare achievement in her military service. US Marine Corps Private First-Class Mariah Vazquez recently scored the highest in Physical Fitness and Combat Fitness of her company. PFC Vazquez scored 600 out of 600 points, surpassing 161 men and 62 women recruits across 7 platoons.
PFC Vazquez graduated in 2016 before moving to Southaven, MS to pursue her associate degree from Northwest Community College. In 2018 she moved with her husband Zach Vazquez to Quantico Virginia, and subsequently enlisted as an Ammunition Technician Specialist. PFC Vazquez began basic training on April 20, 2020 and graduated on July 31, 2020. She was selected as the Company Honor Graduate out of 63 female recruits across 2 platoons.
When asked about her goals with the Marine Corps, PFC Vazquez pointed to her passion for physical fitness and said, ‘I want to surpass the standards of physical fitness for women and strongly compete with the men’.
Upon completion of her training, she will return to college and obtain her bachelor’s degree while serving in the Marine Corps as a reservist.
PFC Vazquez is the daughter of Priscilla and Matt Coulter.
