U.S. Army might admit women to Ranger school next year

A 2013 decision by the Pentagon to fully integrate women into the military by 2016 has seen efforts from the military Service officials across the country. A recent development at the Ranger School seems promising as well.

The U.S. Army’s all-male Ranger School that has a policy barring women from attending the two-month Ranger training course at Georgia's Fort Benning, has now opened its gates for women. The army officials have selected 31 women, out the three dozen that had applied, for a potential Ranger Course Assessment next spring.

20 NCOs (noncommissioned officers) and 11 women officers have been chosen as observers and advisers for the assessment. Before selection, the female soldiers were put through a week of training to familiarize them with the rigorous physical and mental challenges.

Army Times>

Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, stated in a Facebook post: "I was very satisfied with both the quality and quantity of the volunteers we received. Their performance and professionalism over the course of the week was extraordinary. This group did very well for what was a very physically challenging week for any Soldier."

The 62-day long course would include three courses: first at Fort Benning, second in the mountains of Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega, Ga., and the third in swamps at Camp James E. Rudder at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. But the duties of female service officials in the conventional infantry and other units like the 75th Ranger Regiment, (both of which are demanding physically) are still unknown.