Army Ranger prep course passed by 5 out of 26 women

[Chef Ramsay]

The U.S. Army’s preparatory course for the next Ranger School cycle ended with 5 out of 26 women completing the course. All were officers.

Out of 122 soldiers to start the course, 48 percent passed. There were 43 male dropouts in addition to the 21 women, Army Times reported Wednesday.

The army considers its two-week Army National Guard Ranger Training and Assessment Course to be a reliable litmus test for which soldiers are likely to have a chance at passing Ranger School. The army hopes that 40 women will pass the preparatory course between now and April.

“This first iteration of an integrated RTAC has provided significant lessons learned as we conduct a deliberate and professional way forward to the integrated assessment in April,” Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, said in a statement, Army Times reported.

Any female soldiers who attend Ranger School in April will be tested on a variety of skills, including land navigation, a Combat Water Survival Assessment, the Ranger Physical Assessment and a 12-mile road march. There is also a 62-day course comprised of jungle, mountain and swamp phases.

More...http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/4/army-ranger-prep-course-passed-5-out-26-women/

[ABitNut]

The U.S. Army’s preparatory course for the next Ranger School cycle ended with 5 out of 26 women completing the course. All were officers.

Out of 122 soldiers to start the course, 48 percent passed. There were 43 male dropouts in addition to the 21 women, Army Times reported Wednesday.

The army considers its two-week Army National Guard Ranger Training and Assessment Course to be a reliable litmus test for which soldiers are likely to have a chance at passing Ranger School. The army hopes that 40 women will pass the preparatory course between now and April.

“This first iteration of an integrated RTAC has provided significant lessons learned as we conduct a deliberate and professional way forward to the integrated assessment in April,” Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, said in a statement, Army Times reported.

Any female soldiers who attend Ranger School in April will be tested on a variety of skills, including land navigation, a Combat Water Survival Assessment, the Ranger Physical Assessment and a 12-mile road march. There is also a 62-day course comprised of jungle, mountain and swamp phases.

More...http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/4/army-ranger-prep-course-passed-5-out-26-women/

All sexist jokes aside, well done to each of them that passed. Regardless of gender.

[Wilikon]

The U.S. Army’s preparatory course for the next Ranger School cycle ended with 5 out of 26 women completing the course. All were officers.

Out of 122 soldiers to start the course, 48 percent passed. There were 43 male dropouts in addition to the 21 women, Army Times reported Wednesday.

The army considers its two-week Army National Guard Ranger Training and Assessment Course to be a reliable litmus test for which soldiers are likely to have a chance at passing Ranger School. The army hopes that 40 women will pass the preparatory course between now and April.

“This first iteration of an integrated RTAC has provided significant lessons learned as we conduct a deliberate and professional way forward to the integrated assessment in April,” Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, said in a statement, Army Times reported.

Any female soldiers who attend Ranger School in April will be tested on a variety of skills, including land navigation, a Combat Water Survival Assessment, the Ranger Physical Assessment and a 12-mile road march. There is also a 62-day course comprised of jungle, mountain and swamp phases.

More...http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/4/army-ranger-prep-course-passed-5-out-26-women/

All sexist jokes aside, well done to each of them that passed. Regardless of gender.

Why do women have short feet?
To be closer to the stove...

 

[Chef Ramsay]

If the Ranger test results and focal points were equal across the board and these females passed them accordingly then a big round of applause is needed for them. Either way, the testing criteria that these females passed was epic, as in this wasn't girlscout practice, but top dog status. There's often a male and female standard in law enforcement standards in physical fitness tests and it's why I bring it up. I'm staying neutral for now.

[(oYo)]

Bombs and bullets don't discriminate. For this reason I don't think the standards should be any different between men and women. To all those (men and women) that didn't pass... their lives (and the lives of anyone who would've been teamed up with them) were likely spared.

[grendel25]

Standards are standards regardless of sex.  I'm proud of all those who serve with honor.

[bitgeek]

Those, who made it have to be incredibly tough. I know I wouldn't make it although I always liked sports and know a lot about survival.

[saddampbuh]

females have no place on the front line

[bitgeek]

females have no place on the front line

Why not? Ever heard of field medics?
In previous world wars women were were radio operators, loaded rifle magazines, took care of the wounded and performed many other tasks. I wouldn't be amazed if I saw a woman in the special forces, as gender does not influence certain skills like aiming or strategic thinking.

[jaysabi]

If the Ranger test results and focal points were equal across the board and these females passed them accordingly then a big round of applause is needed for them. Either way, the testing criteria that these females passed was epic, as in this wasn't girlscout practice, but top dog status. There's often a male and female standard in law enforcement standards in physical fitness tests and it's why I bring it up. I'm staying neutral for now.

I will say that military training is one example of where it does not make sense to have dual standards. I'm assuming the standard is set for a reason, and that's because it's the minimum strength and skill necessary to competently complete a variety of tasks that might arise on the battlefield. If you can't meet the standard, having a lesser standard you can accomplish for the purpose of having gender equality can put your life and the lives of those in your unit at risk.

I don't see a perfect parity with police work, so would be more willing to accept a dual standard there, especially since most police work is administrative anyway.

[Lethn]

That's exactly right, the last thing you want when it comes to a persons life being in danger is for them to be put into a false sense of security that goes for anyone regardless of them being a woman, you don't want to 'trick' anyone into thinking they can be special forces or for that matter whether they can defend themselves in general. Really basic example but if for instance female doctors were placed on tests that were somehow easier than what men would go through not only would it be unfair to both genders but patients would be totally fucked especially if the sole purpose of the new tests were to put more female doctors in the hospital wing.

People who talk about gender equality and try to fix the problem by simply flooding a profession with numbers don't live in the real world, the bar shouldn't be lowered, it should be kept exactly the same, though sometimes depending on the job I'd argue it may even be a good idea to put the women through more because of how differently they'd be treated out in the real world so they'd be better prepared but that's just me.

I totally agree with people here, particularly with the military, bullets and bombs definitely don't discriminate.

[BitMos]

That's exactly right, the last thing you want when it comes to a persons life being in danger is for them to be put into a false sense of security that goes for anyone regardless of them being a woman, you don't want to 'trick' anyone into thinking they can be special forces or for that matter whether they can defend themselves in general.

unless they are your foe.

[jaysabi]

Really basic example but if for instance female doctors were placed on tests that were somehow easier than what men would go through not only would it be unfair to both genders but patients would be totally fucked especially if the sole purpose of the new tests were to put more female doctors in the hospital wing.

The only distinction I would make on this line is that there is no reason to create a separate standard for men and women on intellectual grounds. There is nothing inherent in gender that would cause one gender to be smarter or more capable of being a doctor than the other. I understand the the notion of strength-based double standards because generally the male gender is physically stronger than female gender, all other things being equal. I understand this point, I just don't think it's applicable for soldiers.

I think a better example is golf. In golf, nobody's life is at risk when women hit from tees that are closer to the green. The logic of this is also strength-based, but without potentially adverse consequences for having the double standard. Not true for elite soldiers.

[BitMos]

females have no place on the front line

What ever you think now, I encourage you to write it. so thank you for your post. As one of the poster asked, could you please tell us why do you think that?

[jaysabi]

females have no place on the front line

What ever you think now, I encourage you to write it. so thank you for your post. As one of the poster asked, could you please tell us why do you think that?

Chivalry or sexism? I'm also interested to know.

[manis]

females have no place on the front line

Why not? Ever heard of field medics?
In previous world wars women were were radio operators, loaded rifle magazines, took care of the wounded and performed many other tasks. I wouldn't be amazed if I saw a woman in the special forces, as gender does not influence certain skills like aiming or strategic thinking.

Women also play combat roles now. 

[(oYo)]

Standards are standards regardless of sex.  I'm proud of all those who serve with honor.

I'm proud of those who do not "serve" the elitists' desire for death and destruction. War is nothing to be glorified. There wouldn't be any war if there were no soldiers. It's that simple.

Those, who made it have to be incredibly tough. I know I wouldn't make it although I always liked sports and know a lot about survival.

War is not a sport. What's your survival plan for having a bomb dropped on your head?

females have no place on the front line

Neither do men.

[jaysabi]

There wouldn't be any war if there were no soldiers. It's that simple.

Overly simplistic to the point of being inaccurate.

[(oYo)]

There wouldn't be any war if there were no soldiers. It's that simple.

Overly simplistic to the point of being inaccurate.

Curious. How do you figure? Can you name a single war that was fought without them?

<edit> Just so there's no question as to what we are talking about:

War: War must entail some degree of confrontation using weapons and other military technology and equipment by armed forces employing military tactics and operational art within a broad military strategy subject to military logistics.

Soldier: A soldier is one who fights as part of an organized land-based armed forces.

[jaysabi]

There wouldn't be any war if there were no soldiers. It's that simple.

Overly simplistic to the point of being inaccurate.

Curious. How do you figure? Can you name a single war that was fought without them?

<edit> Just so there's no question as to what we are talking about:

War: War must entail some degree of confrontation using weapons and other military technology and equipment by armed forces employing military tactics and operational art within a broad military strategy subject to military logistics.

Soldier: A soldier is one who fights as part of an organized land-based armed forces.

I'll explain my thinking, as I offered a conclusion without the reasoning before.

It seems like a semantic game. "Soldiers are necessary to fight war, therefore if there are no soldiers, there cannot be war." Semantically and logically, I think the statement is accurate, but I think it loses applicability in the real world. Everyone's goal ostensibly is to end war, but getting rid of soldiers won't end war because soldiers aren't what cause war. To end war, you have to address the root causes: cultural differences, a lack of empathy, the violent tendency of mankind, and nationalistic fervor, among other things, are the root causes of war. Your statement makes it sounds like the cause to effect would be listed as soldiers ---> war, instead of the violent tendency of man ---> war. If we eliminated all the soldiers, mankind would not suddenly be peaceful, and the soldiers would return instantly once there is a cause for a new nationalistic fervor.