This Stunning Marine Appeared To Have It All – But Then She Started To Lead A Double Life
Life in the Marine Corps suited Shannon Ihrke to a tee. She earned respect for her service, quickly rising in the ranks to become sergeant, and looked set to go even further if she wanted to. But what may surprise you is that the beautiful enlistee had an intriguing secret. And, soon, she would be leading a double life – not one that you would not expect of a marine, either.
A big commitment
Ihrke had enlisted young, though, so it makes sense that she wanted to branch out. Back when she was 19 and in college, a dire financial situation pushed her to seek alternative options to working full-time and studying. That’s how she found herself embarking on a career that pushed her to the limit – both mentally and physically.
Globetrotter
There was an added bonus, too: enlisting in the Marine Corps meant that Ihrke traveled the world while serving her country. And while she was eventually shipped out to Afghanistan – facing conditions that would test any serviceperson – she still told the Military Times that she had reveled in the experience. In 2019 Ihrke said, “Joining the Marine Corps was the best decision of my life and truly set me up for success. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Rising through the ranks
Ihrke wasn’t just there for the ride, either. No, she climbed the ranks and succeeded in her posts. Initially, she had started out as an administrative specialist – a role that typically sees marines deal with correspondence and travel orders, make sure punishment books are up to date, and distribute ID cards, among other tasks.
Sergeant Ihrke
But Ihrke wouldn’t stay in this position for long. She spent years working her hardest to climb the ladder, and in time her effort was rewarded with a new rank: sergeant. Throughout it all, she also battled the stigma that came with being a female marine, although apparently this didn’t take away from the experience.
