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| First female US army rangers 'open up new doors for women' | First female US army rangers 'open up new doors for women' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| They have hiked miles through swamps and over mountains, patrolled for hours on paltry rations, jumped from planes and endured weeks of mock combat. They ran five miles in under 40 minutes, swam nearly 50ft with gear, and trudged hungry and tired for days. They then did it again. | They have hiked miles through swamps and over mountains, patrolled for hours on paltry rations, jumped from planes and endured weeks of mock combat. They ran five miles in under 40 minutes, swam nearly 50ft with gear, and trudged hungry and tired for days. They then did it again. |
| On Friday, captain Kristen Griest and first lieutenant Shaye Haver can also say they are the first women to wear the tab of a US army ranger. | On Friday, captain Kristen Griest and first lieutenant Shaye Haver can also say they are the first women to wear the tab of a US army ranger. |
| “I mean it’s pretty cool,” Griest said on Thursday during a panel at the school. “I’m definitely interested to see what new doors open up for women.” | “I mean it’s pretty cool,” Griest said on Thursday during a panel at the school. “I’m definitely interested to see what new doors open up for women.” |
| “It’s definitely awesome to be a part of the history of Ranger School in general, with graduating with these guys next to me and the 90-plus others,” said Haver. “It probably will be one of the highlights of my life.” | “It’s definitely awesome to be a part of the history of Ranger School in general, with graduating with these guys next to me and the 90-plus others,” said Haver. “It probably will be one of the highlights of my life.” |
| Sitting next to six fellow graduates at the school in Fort Benning, Georgia, the two West Point graduates expressed relief and pride – mostly for the accomplishment of all the 96 new rangers, rather than their place in US military history. | Sitting next to six fellow graduates at the school in Fort Benning, Georgia, the two West Point graduates expressed relief and pride – mostly for the accomplishment of all the 96 new rangers, rather than their place in US military history. |
| Haver, 25, and Griest, 26, joked with the rangers about the brutal rigors of training for months in the wilderness, sleep deprived and surviving on paltry rations. | Haver, 25, and Griest, 26, joked with the rangers about the brutal rigors of training for months in the wilderness, sleep deprived and surviving on paltry rations. |
| “It takes a lot more willpower and mental capacity to pass than physical capacity,” said Haver. “Any semi-sane female who wants to do this course will prepare themselves physically.” | “It takes a lot more willpower and mental capacity to pass than physical capacity,” said Haver. “Any semi-sane female who wants to do this course will prepare themselves physically.” |
| An Apache helicopter pilot from Copperas Cove, Texas, Haver said she plans to return to her unit. Griest, a military police officer from Orange, Connecticut, said she’s interested in special forces operations should they open their teams up to women. She said that she had wanted to become a ranger for years, and both she and Haver said that they wanted the best training the army could provide. | An Apache helicopter pilot from Copperas Cove, Texas, Haver said she plans to return to her unit. Griest, a military police officer from Orange, Connecticut, said she’s interested in special forces operations should they open their teams up to women. She said that she had wanted to become a ranger for years, and both she and Haver said that they wanted the best training the army could provide. |
| Their male peers – some of whom survived being struck by lightning during the course – expressed only respect and camaraderie for their classmates. | Their male peers – some of whom survived being struck by lightning during the course – expressed only respect and camaraderie for their classmates. |
| Instructor Curtis Arnold said the women seemed determined to prevail “because you know everyone is watching. And truthfully there are probably going to be a few folks who want you to fail”. | Instructor Curtis Arnold said the women seemed determined to prevail “because you know everyone is watching. And truthfully there are probably going to be a few folks who want you to fail”. |
| Erickson Krugh, a second lieutenant, admitted that he was “pretty skeptical” about the women’s ability to keep up in the physical challenges. “Honestly, that was smashed pretty fast,” he said. | Erickson Krugh, a second lieutenant, admitted that he was “pretty skeptical” about the women’s ability to keep up in the physical challenges. “Honestly, that was smashed pretty fast,” he said. |
| “I completely believed they were going to run into the walls, just physical walls and break down. That was just never the issue,” he said. | “I completely believed they were going to run into the walls, just physical walls and break down. That was just never the issue,” he said. |
| Instead, he and Griest echoed comments by army leadership and observers, who found that the women struggled more with the tactical leadership segments of the course. Those skills are taught in basic training for male combat infantry units, they noted, and male students often struggle with them as well. | Instead, he and Griest echoed comments by army leadership and observers, who found that the women struggled more with the tactical leadership segments of the course. Those skills are taught in basic training for male combat infantry units, they noted, and male students often struggle with them as well. |
| Two other male rangers said that they, too, were skeptical – until during arduous marches they discovered that Haver and Griest, in their respective teams, were the only rangers willing to take up their load despite being as “broken” as the men. Every man who was asked said they trusted the women and did not care whether the ranger on their right or left was a man or woman. | Two other male rangers said that they, too, were skeptical – until during arduous marches they discovered that Haver and Griest, in their respective teams, were the only rangers willing to take up their load despite being as “broken” as the men. Every man who was asked said they trusted the women and did not care whether the ranger on their right or left was a man or woman. |
| “We were kind of ‘win hearts and minds’ as we went,” Haver said. “It was more important to us becoming teammates with our ranger buddies that we’re graduating with tomorrow than making a statement for females of the future.” | “We were kind of ‘win hearts and minds’ as we went,” Haver said. “It was more important to us becoming teammates with our ranger buddies that we’re graduating with tomorrow than making a statement for females of the future.” |
| I completely believed they were going to run into the walls. That was just never the issue | I completely believed they were going to run into the walls. That was just never the issue |
| “As far as the whole gender thing goes when you’re out in the field you really don’t see a difference,” said Anthony Rombold. | “As far as the whole gender thing goes when you’re out in the field you really don’t see a difference,” said Anthony Rombold. |
| “You’re way too tired and way too hungry to really honestly care,” said sniper Michael Calderon. “At the end of the day everyone was a ranger, it didn’t matter.” | “You’re way too tired and way too hungry to really honestly care,” said sniper Michael Calderon. “At the end of the day everyone was a ranger, it didn’t matter.” |
| Griest and Haver’s families released a statement on Wednesday, saying the women “are just like all the soldiers” in their class: “happy, relieved, and ready for some good food and sleep. Like everyone who will pin the tab on Friday, they are exceptional soldiers and strong teammates.” | Griest and Haver’s families released a statement on Wednesday, saying the women “are just like all the soldiers” in their class: “happy, relieved, and ready for some good food and sleep. Like everyone who will pin the tab on Friday, they are exceptional soldiers and strong teammates.” |
| “I’m super proud,” her father Chris told the Associated Press. | “I’m super proud,” her father Chris told the Associated Press. |
| For now, the women remain barred from serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite combat unit that has its own selection process. The US military has slowly integrated since 2013, when the Pentagon ended its ban on women in combat roles; after months of review and test cases like the ranger course, each branch must submit recommendations or requests for waivers to defense secretary Ash Carter by January 2016. | For now, the women remain barred from serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite combat unit that has its own selection process. The US military has slowly integrated since 2013, when the Pentagon ended its ban on women in combat roles; after months of review and test cases like the ranger course, each branch must submit recommendations or requests for waivers to defense secretary Ash Carter by January 2016. |
| On Wednesday army, navy and air force officials signaled they are moving toward full integration, including in special forces units such as the Seals. Marine corps leaders have kept relatively quiet on the issue. | On Wednesday army, navy and air force officials signaled they are moving toward full integration, including in special forces units such as the Seals. Marine corps leaders have kept relatively quiet on the issue. |
| “I do hope that with our performance in Ranger School we’ve been able to inform that decision,” Griest said. “We can handle things phsyically and metntally on the same level as men, and we can deal with the same stresses and training as the men can.” | “I do hope that with our performance in Ranger School we’ve been able to inform that decision,” Griest said. “We can handle things phsyically and metntally on the same level as men, and we can deal with the same stresses and training as the men can.” |
| She and Haver encouraged women to try for Ranger School if they wanted. “Hopefully they’re encouraged by the legacy of the rangers,” Haver said. “It was good enough to make us come.” | She and Haver encouraged women to try for Ranger School if they wanted. “Hopefully they’re encouraged by the legacy of the rangers,” Haver said. “It was good enough to make us come.” |
| Haver attended high school in Texas with NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, according to a 2008 story in the Killeen Daily Herald, and received an ROTC scholarship for college. She played varsity soccer in high school, the local paper later reported. She also ran competitive cross-country in school, and has been described by her high school’s principal as a bright student and talented athlete. | Haver attended high school in Texas with NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, according to a 2008 story in the Killeen Daily Herald, and received an ROTC scholarship for college. She played varsity soccer in high school, the local paper later reported. She also ran competitive cross-country in school, and has been described by her high school’s principal as a bright student and talented athlete. |
| “Those two women are legit and would have had outstanding careers in the military with or without a tab,” sergeant major Colin Boley, of the Ranger training brigade, told Defense One. | “Those two women are legit and would have had outstanding careers in the military with or without a tab,” sergeant major Colin Boley, of the Ranger training brigade, told Defense One. |
| Sergeant first class Tiffany Myrick, an adviser at the school, told the publication that the two women had impressed her as well. “Haver was the most intense. She was the most vocal, she wasn’t afraid to speak up,” Myric said, adding that while on patrol Haver showed no compunctions about yelling. | Sergeant first class Tiffany Myrick, an adviser at the school, told the publication that the two women had impressed her as well. “Haver was the most intense. She was the most vocal, she wasn’t afraid to speak up,” Myric said, adding that while on patrol Haver showed no compunctions about yelling. |
| “Griest was more quiet,” Myric said. “Quiet but very strong and very humble.” | |
| Myrick praised Griest’s foresight: “Her [operation] orders that she gave were very thorough. She didn’t leave out anything.” | Myrick praised Griest’s foresight: “Her [operation] orders that she gave were very thorough. She didn’t leave out anything.” |
| A third female student is currently retaking the “mountain phase” of the training course, and could graduate by 18 September. Applicants who fail one test but perform well in others can “recycle” through those segments of a course, a second chance but also several additional weeks of laborious mental and physical exertion. | A third female student is currently retaking the “mountain phase” of the training course, and could graduate by 18 September. Applicants who fail one test but perform well in others can “recycle” through those segments of a course, a second chance but also several additional weeks of laborious mental and physical exertion. |
| A few dozen candidates accomplished the 61-day course on their first attempts; Griest, Haver and their 94 fellow graduates had to endure weeks more as they again tried to pass through phases. Only about two of five initial applicants graduate from Ranger School, and a third recycle through at least one phase. | A few dozen candidates accomplished the 61-day course on their first attempts; Griest, Haver and their 94 fellow graduates had to endure weeks more as they again tried to pass through phases. Only about two of five initial applicants graduate from Ranger School, and a third recycle through at least one phase. |