Sister of Ferris, Ferris, Iraq

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Kathryne B. Schilling coaches a woman as she prepares to shoot a pistol during her training to become a Sister of Ferris, June 4, 2008, Ferris, Iraq. The Sisters of Ferris will inspect women for weapons, suicide vests, large amounts of cash and contraband at entry control points. Schilling is assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cindy G. Alejandrez

Just like the folks over at Argghhh!, I like this picture.

Since it was taken by a Marine photographer, there should be a story...somewhere.

So I googled for "Sister of Ferris." When I skipped the links to old TV shows, I found lots of copies of the picture, usually with thoughts like this:

Who knew Bueller had sisters in Iraq? I gotta dig into Wikipedia more often. I gotta find out who this Ferris character was and how they made it okay for women to have guns in Arabic culture. Today its Sisters of Ferris, tomorrow its Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Wonder how long that burqa's gonna be around once Fatima there gets to take her gun home? Also gotta wonder how many women are gonna say "no mas" to a male-dominated culture after spending some time around American female warriors? All benchmarks on the road to creating a functional society. By the way, Sister, you're holding that Glock wrong.
Ares

I rather agree with the sentiment, but anyways....
No luck.

Finally, I figured I'd just google for "Ferris, Iraq."

BINGO!!!

AMERIYAH-FERRIS, Iraq — The training program designed to strengthen Iraqi Security Forces and employ women in the fight against terrorist activity has expanded in Al Anbar province as several new recruits graduated and became the Sisters of Ameriyah-Ferris here on June 5.

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq -Chief Warrant Officer 3 Charles Major, infantry weapons officer of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 assists a shooter during range training with the Sisters of Ameriyah/Ferris June 4. The program trains women in Iraq to work alongside their male counterparts, the Iraqi Police, at entry control points through Anbar. , Lance Cpl. Albert F. Hunt, 6/4/2008 6:40 AM

I've said it before, and I'll say it again-- guns are a great equalizer. You don't need to be big, or strong, or even very fast to win with one; you don't have to wear the proper clothing, and you can even fight with a single arm if you have the right weapon. A sixteen year old, eighty pound girl can beat a 300 pound prize-winning wrestler. And it doesn't require the training you need for bow and arrow.

The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them.- Eowyn of Rohan, The Lord of the Rings.