Aseel Salman was born into an all-female family in Baghdad, Iraq.
In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, she used her dual language skills to assist the U.S. military as a translator after an American soldier was shot and the military needed an interpreter to help with the investigation. During Salman's six years as an Army translator, she accompanied the military on numerous raids and other missions.
"We went out on a raid once, and I went into a house with three women in it," she told Military.com. "I asked if they knew where this man was, and they all said no. Then, one woman whispered to me that she knew where he was and to meet her outside. Once outside, she warned us, saying 'be careful, they are across the street with five loaded AK-47s.' We later caught them."
When she moved to the United States in 2008 she decided to join the U.S. Marines. Salman applied for a special visa under a program permitting immigrants who helped the U.S. overseas to come to the U.S., according to the website.
"I finally joined on June 6, 2013, and turned 30 on June 7," she said. "I could not have thought of a better way to spend my last day as 29."
Salman, who trained with Platoon 4039, November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, graduated on 15 November 2013.
"I joined the Marines to prove to myself and my family and my people that I can do something great and amazing," Salman told the website.
