Women edge forward into combat arms
Photo by Army Sgt. Paul Sale
Soldiers participate in combative training at the U.S. Army Ranger Training Course, Fort Benning, Ga., April 20. Two women — 1st Lt. Shaye Haver (shown, center, dark hair, protective glasses), 25, an Apache helicopter pilot, and Capt. Kristen Griest, 26, a military police platoon leader –are the only two women in history to finish the grueling course.
Staff Writer
This past week saw two historic firsts: two women successfully graduated from Ranger school, and the SEALs are going to allow women to take its training.
Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, both West Point graduates, graduated Aug. 21 in a ceremony at Fort Benning, Ga. Out of a beginning class April 20 of 19 women and 381 men, 94 men and the two lieutenants successfully finished the course.
The SEALs are going to allow women to pursue their training as well, as was announced Aug. 17, but the Department of the Navy has not announced any specific dates as to when it will begin.
Depending on your point of view, your reaction has either been “Wow” or “no way this should happen.”
I’m in the first category.