Can you graduate rangers school?

[Sailor Sam]

Hello everybody! This isn't my badassity, but it's incredibly awesome, and I want everyone to be excited with me. Last friday CAPT Kristen Griest and 1LT Shaye Haver graduated from U.S. Army Ranger School. The first females to complete the training, ever.

I can only imagine the sheer drive and determination it took just to get to onto the bus headed for Fort Benning. The battles they fought were individual, but they did it for a nation. I don't think anything higher can be asked of a solider, and now they have their tabs. What a glorious fucking day for them, and the Army, and the rest of the uniformed services. Bravo Zulu to those fine officers. Someday I would like very much to shake their hands.

Edited: spelling

[Drifterrider]

In answer to the question, YES I can graduate rangers school (if I take the on line course) :)

[northernlights]

Could I? Absolutely not, but I'm sure glad our country is being served by brave women like them!

[MissStache]

LOL NO!  I doubt I could pass the basic training entrance physical (I jest...but barely). 

But those women are BADASS.  Not only are they tough as nails and strong as oxen, but they are brave and determined and inspirational.  I think they are amazing. 

[Jakejake]

I am in awe of them! I made it through regular basic training, but I scammed my way out of both the obstacle course and the confidence course. Luckily, I was never in a position where I had to defend our country by hopping from one log to another that was 6 feet away.

[Bajadoc]

They would be the first to tell you there are no "male" or "female" Rangers, only Rangers. Good on ALL Rangers.

[enigmaT120]

The only test I saw was running 5 miles in 40 minutes, which I can do easily.  I don't know about the rest of it! 

[Travis]

It's more than just some physical exertion.  Ranger school puts you through significant mental and physical endurance with weeks of physical training, obstacle courses that test your confidence, and leading other soldiers through simulated battles in forests, mountains, and swamp on little sleep and about half the calories you're used to.  Not only is there a fairly high attrition rate (40-50%), but if you fail one of the three phases you're offered a chance to repeat the phase or possibly starting at Day 1 (of a 60 day course).  Imagine the confidence and fortitude of someone going through all of that, failing, and volunteering to do it all over again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_School

http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/rtb/

[Sailor Sam]

They would be the first to tell you there are no "male" or "female" Rangers, only Rangers. Good on ALL Rangers.

Indubitably, my good...person! Excellent point.

[Bajadoc]

When I was a kid, I was a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. We all thought we were tough until the Rangers took us out to the field for some training. Rangers kicked our ass in every way. They shot better, ran faster, went days without eating, killed chickens for us to eat,  slapped our face when we complained, showed us how to make a shelter and keep warm. They were expert in land navigation, foot care and how to maintain our weapons. They could walk all day and night, carry heavy loads and make a fire. They could sew a button, clear a jam in an M16, patch a blister with mole skin and keep walking. Rangers never complained. The Ranger who called me a pussy for two weeks also called me a good solider and bought me all the beer I could drink for the rest of the time I was at Fort Bragg. I really believe that a big part of my success in life is because of the example those Rangers showed me way back in 1978.  Whenever I had a problem in school or work I thought about those Rangers and their can do attitude. God bless them all.

[I'm a red panda]

Nope.
But I'd be medically disqualified because of my cervical fusion and cord damage, so I couldn't even get in.

[mm1970]

Nope. Not in college/ ROTC, not in the Navy, not when I was running half marathons.  I'm not built for it.

But when people talk about how women can't do it (there's been a lot of BS out there this week), I think back.

In ROTC, there were 6 women my year.
My roommate was a swimmer.  She ran fast too and could do more pullups than most of the men.
My friend was a runner.  She was, in fact, the 2nd fastest runner our year, including the men.  Ran the 1.5 mile run in...under 9 minutes I think.  (It was a LOONG time ago).

I was reminded of a couple of female Marine options a year younger than me, who were also badass, though being that they were younger, it's not a cemented in my head.

[Emg03063]

Not today.  In my prime, probably, but I damn sure had no desire to.  As I said in officer basic, if there's ever a shortage of ranger qualified engineer officers, the Army is welcome to give me a call.  Until then...