(Photos submitted) Dressed in her camouflage uniform, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Aimee Mares and her English Bulldog, Scuba.

Mares joined the military to serve her country.

She chose the U.S. Marine Corps because its core values of honor, courage and commitment motivated her.

Outside a small cafe in Abu Nuwas, Eastern Baghdad, a group of men play a game on dominoes.

"Honor is having integrity, accepting responsibility and being accountable. Courage is doing the right thing in the right way for the right reasons. Commitment is devotion to the Corps and my fellow Marines," wrote the 5-foot-4, 105-pound major who serves as a ranking female officer in Iraq now with staff of the Multi-National Corps. "Marines lead by example, and this is what I wanted to do."

The 35-year-old daughter of Dr. Harry Beauman II and Cynthia Beauman is a 1991 Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, 1995 U.S. Naval Academy and 2002 Naval Postgraduate School graduate.

She and her husband Jeff Mares, a retired U.S. Marine Corps captain, met in Okinawa, Japan in 1997. During their time off, the two, who have an English Bulldog named Scuba, enjoy traveling, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, riding bicycles and motorcycles, gardening, landscaping and reading books together.

An Iraqi Army soldier guards Iraqi Army Gen. Ali while he walks through a marketplace in Mahmudiyah, Iraq on June 5.

Mares answered the following questions e-mailed to her recently:

Q. Please describe your military career up to this point.

A. I started as a 2nd Lt. in Okinawa, Japan for a year. I was a Motor Transport Platoon Commander, and I loved every minute of leading my platoon of 60 Marines. We deployed to Australia for six weeks which was my first trip "down under." I learned to scuba dive in Okinawa, and best of all, I met Jeff there. Next, I went to Camp Pendleton, Calif., for three years. This was my first experience on the West Coast, and I loved my time there. I was first assigned to 7th Motor Transport Battalion where I had an opportunity to go to cold weather training in Bridgeport, Calif. I also spent several months training in the desert of 29 Palms, Calif. with another great platoon of Marines. I was then assigned as a Motor Transport Detachment Commander to deploy with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. My Marines and I traveled the Pacific seas for six months on the USS Rushmore. This was definitely the highlight of my time in the Marine Corps to date. We traveled to Hawaii, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Australia. Upon returning to Camp Pendleton, I was assigned to the 1st Brigade Service Support Group, and we deployed to Kenya, Africa, for a month where we provided medical and dental services to some of the remote villages and we trained with the Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian militaries. My time at Camp Pendleton was full of travel and adventures, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. My next stop was the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. It was definitely a change of pace becoming a full-time student for two years. I earned a master's degree in space systems operations.

Iraqi women and children wait in line for medical care during a humanitarian aid and medical operation conducted by 42nd Iraqi Army Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division at Al-Nasser Police Station in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

I was then assigned to the National Security Space Office in the Washington D.C. area to put my education to work. I learned an amazing amount about policy, programs and budgets during my time in Washington D.C. It was incredibly different from leading Marines and a valuable learning experience. My next stop was my current duty station. Jeff and I were excited to get orders back to Okinawa, Japan, where I work on the staff of III Marine Expeditionary Force. On the general's staff in Okinawa, we spend a lot of time training with the staffs of other countries' militaries. During my first two years in Okinawa, I trained with the staffs of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, and with the Australian Defence Force. It's a great experience to work with other countries, and it also prepared me for my experience here in Iraq with the staff of the Multi-National Corps -- Iraq.

Q. Where are you currently based and what's a "normal" day like for you now?

A. I am currently working on the staff of the Multi-National Corps - Iraq. It is a joint staff including members of all services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force), although it is predominately an Army staff. It also includes staff members of several other countries. During my first two weeks here, I ran into an Australian officer and a Japanese soldier I had worked with last year. It really showed me just how small the world can be. The staff spends its days compiling, analyzing and assessing all that is going on in Iraq to assist the commanders in making the right decisions. We spend a lot of time researching and answering questions. It is an amazing experience -- and there is never a day that goes by that I don't learn something new.

An Iraqi soldier from 42nd Iraqi Army Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division distributes food and water among Iraqi civilians at Al-Nasser Police Station in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

Q. What changes have you experienced in the military during your tenure and as a woman?

A. Every Marine is a rifleman -- whether male or female. This is another aspect of the Marine Corps that inspired me to join. While females are still not allowed to serve in direct combat missions, we are all held to the same initial training standards. We are all Marines who enjoy challenges and will do our utmost to accomplish whatever mission is placed before us.

Q. How many tours of duty have you served?

A. This is my first tour to Iraq. Jeff served in Afghanistan while I was in school in Monterey. He was part of the Marine Expeditionary Unit that was the first unit to go into Pakistan and then Afghanistan after 9/11. They were actually finishing some training in Australia on 9/11 and I can remember getting a phone call from him as he was on the pier getting ready to get back on the ship. He was calling to tell me that he wasn't sure when we'd be able to talk next. Getting through that deployment for me was harder than anything I've ever done. We've talked about that a lot, and we both agree that it's easier to be the one that is deployed. When you are deployed, you have a mission to accomplish and you are focused each and every day. Being at home and wondering how things are going is definitely the tougher side of things.

A member of the Iraqi National Police cools off during the June 5 search of farmland in Jurf Nadaf, Iraq. The area was suspected of being used by extremists to store weapons caches.

Q. When you've completed this tour of duty, what's next on the agenda?

A. Once I finish in Iraq, I will go back to Okinawa. I have another year to finish there.

Q. What are your words of wisdom, or advice, for a teenager contemplating joining the military?

A. Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Set high goals, believe in yourself, and go after them.

Q. What "luxuries" or "comforts" do you miss the most?

A. I miss spending time with Jeff. I can't wait to get back to Okinawa and spend a full day scuba diving in the crystal clear blue waters with him.

Q. What are your goals?

A. To be the best wife and Marine that I can be.

Q. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

A. I'd love to send a sincere thank you to everyone in the states. I can't tell you how many care packages arrive here in Iraq on a daily basis from all over the U.S. The generosity is truly amazing and quite humbling. I'd love to thank everyone for their kindness. You bring many smiles and brighten many days for the service men and women here in Iraq. Thank you.