What do you think of RANGER school now being open to women? Do you think it will last or die?

2LT Earl Dean — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:46:58 -0500

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/11/04/without-fanfare-ranger-school-officially-opens-female-soldiers.html?ESRC=army-a_151104.nl

U.S. Army Ranger School is now officially open to women -- no pilot programs, no exclusions based on gender.

"We are ready to train whoever shows up to Ranger School and meets the standards," said Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade Commander David Fivecoat on Tuesday.
But unlike the pilot process earlier this year that produced the first three women Rangers, the Army is not saying how many women students are in the current class that started on Monday at Camp Rogers on Fort Benning.

"We are now running an integrated Ranger course," Fort Benning spokesman Bob Purtiman said when asked the number of women in the current class. "... We are going to treat this like we do the other schools -- such as Airborne -- in which we don't release that information."
The current Ranger School class that began Monday included 417 students, Purtiman said. By the end of the first day of physical assessment that included a five-mile run in under 40 minutes, situps, pushups and chinups, the class was down to about 300, Purtiman said. Most of those who were dropped failed to do the required 49 pushups.

Though the Army is not saying how many women enrolled in the 62-day course or how they did in the early physical assessment, sources familiar with Ranger School told the Ledger-Enquirer about a half dozen females started the course.
The Ranger Assessment Phase, which takes four days, includes a land navigation test that students must pass and a 12-mile march that must be done in less than 3 hours. Those who pass the assessment will move to Camp Darby on Fort Benning for the first of three patrol phases. The middle phase is in the north Georgia mountains and the final phase is in the Florida swamps.
The decision to open the course to women was announced by the Army in early September after the first two women involved in a gender-integration pilot program earned their Ranger tabs.

In August, Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver became the first women to earn the tab in August, and a third, Maj. Lisa Jaster, finished the course last month.
Less than 3 percent of the Army's soldiers are Ranger-qualified.
The shift in more than six decades as a male-only combat leadership course comes in the wake of three women earning their Ranger tabs in a pilot program that started in April and took nearly six months to complete.

Without Fanfare, Ranger School Officially Opens to Female Soldiers

U.S. Army Ranger School is now officially open to women -- no pilot programs, no exclusions based on gender.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 9:51 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:51:57 -0500

If they pass, they pass. If they fail, they fail. Same goes for the men.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 4 at 2015 9:59 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:59:25 -0500

The brass is committed to this, it will not die; the standards will be relaxed if necessary to save the program.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Nov 5 at 2015 12:27 AM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:27:30 -0500

I think it is sign of the times. We shall see.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Nov 5 at 2015 12:58 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:58:01 -0500

Women are there to stay however I really do hope that they don't lower the standards just to accomodate women. So long as they can do the job I support them.

P.S. There are now three female rangers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 1:08 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:08:24 -0500

I still don't see the issue with this. We let soldiers that are not combat arms go. If they want a shot why not let them. I think it something that in time we won't think about. I just hope they have the same experience that all the others have while in Ranger School. Just like the others that made it so far they are Rangers. They have done more to earn the title than some of those trying to call them out.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Nov 5 at 2015 1:35 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:35:45 -0500

It will last, because men are realizing that well trained women warriors have the mettle to be effective fighters, more so as we deal with religious misguided idiots. Ironic to see women in Ranger School while the men whine, sort of role reversals.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 2:49 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 02:49:00 -0500

Even if they never allow woman to wear the scroll, the leadership training will be an asset to other units that have the potential to be directly involved in combat.

Combat engine engineers and MPs immediately come to mind

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 5 at 2015 8:48 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 08:48:32 -0500

It's a School, not a Billet. The purpose of the School is advanced tactics and leadership. All Soldiers can benefit from the School, regardless of MOS, and there is no MOS requirement to the best of my knowledge. There are other requirements to attend the school, and if you are able to meet those requirements and your unit will benefit from having you attend the school, there is little reason not to send you to the school.

Additionally, as this School is looked at for Advancement later, or a "check in the box" it becomes a competitive DISADVANTAGE not to have it. This creates an inequity during eras where downsizing occurs.

Now, will we see high pass/fail rates from specific demographics? Likely. Will we see "enhanced screening" from specific demographics? Most definitely.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 1:02 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:02:05 -0500

One day we will finally see Soldiers as Soldiers and Sailors as Sailors and Marines as Marines and so on and so forth. Until that day we are still blinded by race, gender, religion, etc. It really is as simple as that.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Nov 5 at 2015 1:52 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:52:03 -0500

Here is another spin on Ranger School and women, a country that is willing to train its women to fight is a formidable opponent to invade. Men teach your girlfriends, wife, daughters and granddaughters to shoot and fight and armed them so that they deal with burglars and abusive men.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Nov 5 at 2015 6:51 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 18:51:20 -0500

I wonder what percentage of rallypoint users that have have been complaining about female rangers have tab; if all you so called " professional soldiers " can't deal with lady parts, youhave no business in the army.
BTW good luck finding meaningful employment when you get out with that attitude

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Nov 5 at 2015 8:29 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:29:08 -0500

I think that it's good for the Army, and will last, but here's some food for thought:

If the Army is 25% women, will there be 25% more slots? If men have a 50% pass rate, and women have a 5% pass rate, should 10X more slots go to males? The Army, as a whole, will suffer if they don't quota out the slots. 2 classes, 100 applicants each, 1 male the other Female; the army has 55 new rangers. 2 classes of males; the army has 100 new rangers.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 11:08 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 23:08:32 -0500

I don't who attends, Ranger school still intimidates me.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 7 at 2015 11:47 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 11:47:40 -0500

Women, albeit, just a few will pass ranger school, is the peg that justifies women going into combat arms.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 7 at 2015 12:54 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 12:54:37 -0500

I'm OK with that, as long as they participate in exactly the same way as the males. Let the best man/woman win. However, most polls say that only 8% of the females want combat assignments.

Response by COL Sam Russell made Nov 7 at 2015 2:30 PM

COL Sam Russell — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 14:30:20 -0500

Still just as hard to earn that black and gold tab. One day women will fail or graduate without it ever making the news. Thank will be a good day.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 10 at 2015 12:09 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 12:09:30 -0500

It will last as long as there are those who want the challenge, and believe they can make it. This is becoming a bigger reality show than the Kardashians, and that's not right. Go/No Go. Pass/Fail. that's all that matters, sex is immaterial.

Response by SGT William Howell made Nov 10 at 2015 12:33 PM

SGT William Howell — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 12:33:33 -0500

There was not an "Other". I elect "Topic beat into the ground."

Response by SSG Jeff Binkiewicz made Nov 10 at 2015 1:07 PM

SSG Jeff Binkiewicz — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:07:21 -0500

It will last, I guess my only question is how are the Ranger slots allotted? Are a few set aside just for women? The slots should be allocated to those most qualified to attend the course.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 11 at 2015 5:11 PM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:11:25 -0500

I look forward to when the gender, all genders reqardless it doesn't matter. If anyone can get through and make it great job to all.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 12 at 2015 2:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:39:26 -0500

Females will pass, but at a trickle.