Army Ranger School officially opened to women

WASHINGTON — The Army announced Wednesday that its elite Ranger School will be open to all qualified women, a key milestone in the military’s  efforts to lift the ban on females in ground combat jobs.

The decision was made after the Army allowed women to enter a limited number of classes as part of an assessment to determine how best to integrate females into ground combat specialties, such as the infantry and special operations.

Last month, the first two women graduated from the Ranger School as part of that assessment. A third woman remains in training.

"We must ensure that this training opportunity is available to all soldiers who are qualified and capable, and we continue to look for ways to select, train and retain the best soldiers to meet our nation's needs," Army Secretary John McHugh said in a statement.

The Army said it did not change its standards at the two-month course, where students patrol for hours over mountains and through swamps, often with little sleep or food.

Women have been exposed to combat regularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the most physically demanding jobs in the military remain closed to them.

Women are still barred from joining the Ranger Regiment, the infantry and some other fields under the so-called ground combat exclusion.

That may soon change. The military services have been ordered to lift the ground combat exclusion by next year. If the services want to make an exception, they would need approval from Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

The services have not said whether they would request a waiver to the policy, but recent comments from military leaders suggest they are prepared to open most or all jobs to women.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who oversees the Marine Corps, said he believes there shouldn’t be any exemptions. "I do not see a reason for an exemption," Mabus told the Navy Times.

Adm. John Greenert, chief of naval operations, said recently he will not seek an exemption for the Navy SEALs.

It is not clear whether the Marines will seek an exemption. It is the most male-dominated service and is built around the infantry.

The Marine Corps opened its Infantry Officer Course to women on an experimental basis, but none has completed the course.