Posted on 08/20/2015 4:15:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway
One of the first women to graduate from the Army's notoriously grueling Ranger School says she hopes her success will go toward proving that women in the military are capable of doing what men do.
Capt. Kristen Griest of Orange, Connecticut said her successful completion of the elite, two-month program show that women "can deal with the same stresses and training that men can."
Griest and First Lt. Shaye Haver of Copperas Cove, Texas, will graduate at Fort Benning, Georgia, along with 94 men on Friday. Out of 19 women who began the program, Haver and Griest are the only two to finish so far.
Completing the course lets the two women wear the coveted Ranger black-and-gold tab. But for now they're still unable to join the elite 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning. The military's toughest jobs including positions in infantry, armor and special operations units such as the Ranger Regiment remain closed to women.
Haver and Griest both graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point not only finished the course they started in April. They both had to start from scratch, having failed two previous attempts.
"These two soldiers have absolutely earned the respect of every Ranger instructor," Cmd. Sgt. Major Curtis Arnold told reporters. "They do not quit and they do not complain."
Arnold said he suspects Haver and Griest had extra motivation to graduate "because you know everyone is watching. And truthfully there are probably a few folks who want you to fail. So you've got to put out 110 percent."
The families of the women gave a more modest assessment, saying in a joint statement that Haver and Griest, are "just like all the soldiers" graduating this week from the grueling two-month Ranger course.
Griest, 26, and Haver, 25, are "happy, relieved, and ready for some good food and sleep" before they line up Friday at Fort Benning alongside 94 male soldiers who also earned the coveted black-and-gold Ranger tab to adorn their uniforms.
The course tests soldiers' ability to overcome fatigue, hunger and stress during combat operations. The Army opened Ranger School to female soldiers for the first time this year as part of the military's push to open more combat jobs to women.
"This has been something she's wanted to do for a long, long time," Griest's older brother, Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mike Griest, told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "We're all very, very proud of her. It's a tremendous achievement not only for her personally but for the Army and women in the military in general."
Griest grew up loving to camp in the wilderness and test her endurance, making her a natural to take on Ranger School, her brother said. He noted she chose to become a military police officer because she felt it was the closest she could get to an Army combat job.
"If she had been allowed to go infantry out of college, she would have done that," Mike Griest said.
Haver followed in her father's footsteps to become a pilot of attack helicopters. He also served as a career Army aviator who flew Apaches, and said his daughter has always been mentally tough and incredibly physically fit. He said she has run marathons and competed in triathlons for West Point. WATCH: Victim Strikes Back Against Armed Robber in Double Shooting "She's kind of built for this thing," Chris Haver said.
Which in the overall scheme of things and TO & E means nothing.
I hear there’s a base at Adak that needs a brand new Motor Pool Officer and adjutant!
I know I feel safer. When the first tranny brigade is formed we’ll really be safe.
A lot of officers, especially West Pointers, get the tab even if they are in other branches or never serve in the 75th because it’s a challenge, prestigious and a career enhancer.
um.. were these women... born women? or are these some of the mental men who identify as women?
But they won’t be in combat, so they won’t anyone but themselves.
Pretty sure they are actual women.
I was skin and bones when I finished Ranger School. I don’t know if that photo was taken after they graduated RS, but if it was it doesn’t look like they missed more than a couple of meals to me. Just sayin’
Still, it’s a waste of resources.
But maybe their daddies will -finally- love them.
Congrats!
Got to remember that Israel has had women in the armed forces for years.
Have to correct you. RASP is the Ranger Selection and Assessment. That's not what they just did. They did Ranger School....though I have it from a Ranger that I am very close to that their instructors were told to “pass them through” and that they recycled each course several times. They started the 6 week program in April, which tells you a lot. I've been told that it was VERY political. The only saving grace is that they will not be part of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Are women is Israel in special forces-type groups?
mark my words... one of the last acts of King Barry I as he and his tranny wife are absconding with the White House China... will be to open ALL combat branches of the military to women. the relentless ratcheting of liberal social engineering never stops. he'll do this after the 2016 election, but before he leaves office. SOP for the democRATS.
Anybody who raises their girls to think they can do ANYTHING a man can do is nuts. - Daddy was in the Army Infantry during WWII; no women in basic back then. He said there were some “gays”, only they didn’t call them gay back then. He said most of them struck out in basic. The MEN were intent on the war & shoving Hitler’s Third Reich down his throat. - They moved FAST; too fast for foolishness; up through N. Africa, Italy & into Germany just 30 minutes after Hitler had taken the coward’s way out & committed suicide. - War makes you grow up quick! Quick or die! No foolishness!
Just how many attempts are they suppose to get?
The nation has gone stark raving mad. It will take something extremely traumatic to bring it back to its senses.
Those are guys!
But they are trying to get them into combat-that is the problem!
True!
They do clean up a bit away from Ranger School.
Har!
This evil MF CPUSA stooge in the WH will do maximum damage to US Military as long as he is in power.
The only reason he doesn’t talk about a third term is he’s a lazy bastard, has no incentive as he’s already rich and carried out his mission, and the USA “Officer Corpse” would make the situation real.
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