TRENDING

 

This was the first year that the Army opened the program to women. This was done on a trial basis to see how it would work out and, as you can see, these ladies did not let doubt and hesitation discourage them from proving women are just as worthy of the course. They were among the 96 students who graduated this past Friday in Fort Benning, Georgia.

The Ranger School has been described as “the Army’s premier combat leadership course, teaching Ranger students how to overcome fatigue, hunger and stress to lead Soldiers during small unit combat operations.” Undergoing physical fitness test such as pushups, sit-ups, 5 mile runs and 12 mile foot marches, by the end of the 61-day course, only 94 men and two women met all the requirements.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, Council on Foreign Relations, was reported saying that she believes that the graduation of these two women will increase women’s interest in certain military positions. “The women who are out there performing the jobs, they are the people who are changing people’s minds,” said Lemmon. 

Although these ladies graduated from the tough program, they will not be able to join the ranger unit quite yet—still, their options after completing this program are still being assessed at the top level, a CNN news reporter says.

Janine Davidson, a former U.S. Air Force aircraft commander and senior pilot quotes, “This is an important moment and an important week because I see it as reality and perception catching up with each other. Women have been on the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq… So you see policymakers in the Pentagon are ready to say, ‘We don’t see any reasons why women can’t be in certain roles.'” 

These ladies have shown much courage and determination, and deserve even more recognition. Women are beginning to break through obstacles like never before and are now showing that anything males can do, females can do, too!

Check out the full video coverage on CNN.

Has anyone ever told you that you couldn't do something—and then you totally proved them wrong? Share your story in the comments.

Photo credit: CNN

by Tonaea Lee | 2/1/2016