While the terrifying realities of the Iraq war mean very little to the majority of Bermudians, there is one Onion who has devoted her life to the American military cause in a country beset by bloody violence and instability.

Following hard on the heels of her brother David Perinchief, 27-year-old Bermudian Lauren Baskins became a United States Marine three years ago after undergoing what is reportedly one of the most arduous selection processes ever conceived.

She is now a Commissioned Officer in that most prestigious of institutions, serving since February near the volatile city of Ramadi, 70 miles west of the capital Baghdad and in sole charge of a detachment providing logistical support for a battalion battling the nation-crippling insurgency. And the name of the detachment which she leads? Why, Task Force Bermuda naturally.

Life could not be more different for this one-time employee of a corporate events production company in Boston, the daughter of paediatrician Dr. Peter Perinchief. But after three years of comfortable normality in the pleasant east coast city, Lieutenant Baskins decided to force herself down a more challenging route ? in pursuit of something more ?authentic? as she put it.

Enthusiastically encouraged by her brother, who is himself now a Sergeant in the Marines and due to be deployed to Iraq some time in the New Year, Lt. Baskins is currently revelling in her new-found responsibilities and the camaraderie of military life.

?It is a privilege to serve in the Marine Corps,? she said.

?The experience is among the most precious of my life. There is a fellowship of shared hardships and dangers for a worthy cause ? it creates a close bond of comradeship. This is the basic reason why there is a cohesiveness of Marines and for the pride we have for our Corps and our loyalty to each other. Being a leader of Marines is a rewarding and challenge experience. You are entrusted with the lives and welfare of the Marines and there is a responsibility and caring you feel for each one of them. It?s a family structure, with relationships built on mutual respect ... to serve in the Marine Corps is to serve in an organisation that demands and delivers excellence beyond all others ? which of course was the draw for me in the first place. Being deployed is when you are pushed to your maximum potential day after day. For me that is the personal, mental and physical reward.?

It is this culture of excellence, the need to dredge the very best out of herself and those she commands on an almost daily basis, which appears to excite Lt. Baskins most.

Her daily life is one of immense challenge and responsibility, charged as she is with overseeing the support structures for close to 6,000 marines operating in combat zones around Ramadi. It is a responsibility she takes very seriously indeed ? although she is quick to praise the efforts of those who serve under and around her.

?My detachment is small and very strong,? she said.

?Just days after arrival I assumed all current support requirements for units on Camp Blue Diamond and Camp Ramadi.The Marines get along well, work hard together and push through the same miseries. Misery loves company. It?s what brings you together. I have my Marines to thank for the success of my detachment. They go out in the 120 degree heat and work day after day supporting the units on the bases. We are the only Marine combat service support unit, so it?s busy for the operators all the time. Every Marine has been outstanding since day one.?

While your average civilian thinks of Marine life as a world dominated by hard, muscular men brimming with testosterone and bravado, Lt. Baskins said that women can and do play a very active role.

?Women in the Marine Corps today continue to serve proudly and capably in whatever capacity their country and Corps require,? she said.

?Ninety-three percent of all occupational fields and 62 percent of positions are open to women. Women officers account for 4.3 percent of all Marine Officers and we are all held to the same standards, male or female.?

Set to return home for Christmas, Lt. Baskins now faces another three months working and training in the scorching summer heat of the Middle East ? away from her husband Robert, also a Marine, who is currently back home in America.

?But when you are in garrison, everything is focused towards training and the mission at hand,? she insisted, making light of the difficulties normally associated with long periods away from friends and family.

?That is what Marines do. Train to fight, and train the way you fight. Physically, mentally and technically, you are always working in the mindset of a war fighter. It is ingrained in you from the first day you get to Officer Candidate School. The United States Marine Corps is a force in readiness ? always prepared to fight, anywhere, anytime.?