First women ever graduate of Army Ranger School

For the first time in U.S. history, two young women successfully completed the elite Army Ranger training program in Fort Benning, Georgia.

While the female soldiers, both West Point graduates and officers, will be awarded the esteemed Ranger tab to wear on their uniforms at a graduation ceremony this Friday, they will not be given the opportunity to join prestigious Ranger units like their fellow graduates due to restrictions on female combat service.

Each year, hundreds of young soldiers test their physical and psychological limits in the 61-day combat training that simulates real life military missions by forcing recruits to operate under extreme fatigue, hunger and stress. Only about three percent of the U.S. Army ever qualifies. This is the first year that women were allowed to participate in the program.

“They are clearly motivated. And, frankly, that’s what we want out of our soldiers,” Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno said of the two female soldiers.

Although the Army has recently taken steps to reevaluate the issue, women remain banned from serving in combat units.

In January 2013, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a directive for all armed services to study the question of having women serve in combat zones. The military now has until January to either open combat positions to women or offer reasoning for why they should remain restricted.

“If they can meet the qualifications for the job, then they should have the right to serve, regardless of creed or color or gender or sexual orientation,” Panetta said in 2013.