Posted on Aug 15, 2015
Will the Army open its elite Ranger Regiment to women?
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Air National Guard C-130s roared over the lush, shaggy grass of the Elizabeth Drop Zone here last week, a near-steady hum overhead. Army Ranger students were a few hours into a mission known as Operation Pegasus, and needed to parachute in from a height of about 1,100 feet.
Aircrews made several passes without letting any students out due to breezy conditions deemed unsafe to jump. But eventually, the students’ green chutes dotted the early-evening Thursday sky. They floated down into the open fields of Eglin with 70 pounds of equipment, food and water before disappearing into thick brush, beginning a 10-day exercise that ends this Saturday and is the last major field event in the Army’s famously difficult Ranger School.
History is in the balance: For the first time, two female students advanced to the third and final phase of the famously exhausting course in the swamps of Florida, and are within reach of graduating. If they pass, they will become the first Ranger-qualified women in the history of the U.S. military and celebrated at an Aug. 21 graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, Ga., that is expected to draw not only family and friends, but hundreds of other well-wishers and media from across the country.
If they graduate, the Army must confront a separate, but related decision: Whether to allow women to try out for the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. The highly trained Special Operations unit carries out raids and other difficult missions and includes about 3,600 soldiers, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. It remains completely closed to women, even though some of the jobs in it, ranging from parachute rigger to intelligence analyst, are open in other parts of the Army.
The women were allowed into Ranger School this year as part of the military’s ongoing assessment of how to integrate women into combat roles. In 2013, Pentagon leaders decided to rescind the long-held policy banning women from serving in combat-arms jobs like infantryman. Thus far, the Army has said that any woman who graduates will be allowed to wear the prestigious Ranger Tab, but won’t be allowed to serve in the Ranger Regiment. The decoration is highly respected across the military, and considered a necessity to advance in many Army careers.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/will-the-army-open-its-elite-ranger-regiment-to-women-a-controversial-decision-awaits/ar-BBlEbj7
Aircrews made several passes without letting any students out due to breezy conditions deemed unsafe to jump. But eventually, the students’ green chutes dotted the early-evening Thursday sky. They floated down into the open fields of Eglin with 70 pounds of equipment, food and water before disappearing into thick brush, beginning a 10-day exercise that ends this Saturday and is the last major field event in the Army’s famously difficult Ranger School.
History is in the balance: For the first time, two female students advanced to the third and final phase of the famously exhausting course in the swamps of Florida, and are within reach of graduating. If they pass, they will become the first Ranger-qualified women in the history of the U.S. military and celebrated at an Aug. 21 graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, Ga., that is expected to draw not only family and friends, but hundreds of other well-wishers and media from across the country.
If they graduate, the Army must confront a separate, but related decision: Whether to allow women to try out for the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. The highly trained Special Operations unit carries out raids and other difficult missions and includes about 3,600 soldiers, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. It remains completely closed to women, even though some of the jobs in it, ranging from parachute rigger to intelligence analyst, are open in other parts of the Army.
The women were allowed into Ranger School this year as part of the military’s ongoing assessment of how to integrate women into combat roles. In 2013, Pentagon leaders decided to rescind the long-held policy banning women from serving in combat-arms jobs like infantryman. Thus far, the Army has said that any woman who graduates will be allowed to wear the prestigious Ranger Tab, but won’t be allowed to serve in the Ranger Regiment. The decoration is highly respected across the military, and considered a necessity to advance in many Army careers.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/will-the-army-open-its-elite-ranger-regiment-to-women-a-controversial-decision-awaits/ar-BBlEbj7
Women in the Military
Army
Ranger
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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Ranger school is a LEADERSHIP school. It does not qualify anyone for service in the Regiment. Completing RASP is what opens the door to the Bats and I don't see any women aside from the possible outliers making it through RASP if the standards are kept the same. I also don't see women living the hard knock life of being a Ranger. The physiological differences between the male and female body are genetic, unchangeable and undeniable. Life in the Bats takes a heavy toll on a male body. With women having lower bone density and muscle mass I just don't see females enduring the near constant physical abuse that comes with serving in the Bats.
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From what I read the other day, it looks like two women just might make it. They're getting close to the end of training.
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Now. No. It was stated in advance that any potential female candidate would not be going to the Ranger Regiment. That issue will be decided once the Army determines how they are going to fully integrate women in Combat Units. This is a Cart before Horse issue.
Until most Combat Units to BN level are desegregated, this issue is moot. Once the Army as a whole is desegregated, and there is a larger quantity of potential candidates, then it may become an issue.
Until most Combat Units to BN level are desegregated, this issue is moot. Once the Army as a whole is desegregated, and there is a larger quantity of potential candidates, then it may become an issue.
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Oh the dilemmas we create! I think the Army will have themselves backed in a corner. You can't say you are opening it up to women and then deny them entrance to a unit, can you?
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SN Greg Wright
MSgt (Join to see) Capt (Join to see) Well I think everyone is forgetting: Men don't go right from Ranger school into the active Regiment. They go on to further training, don't they? To specialize? So just graduating doesn't earn them the right, I believe. They have to finish it ALL.
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Capt (Join to see)
SN Greg Wright - I am not for or against. I do say that the standards should not be changed to allow it to happen.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SN Greg Wright
I think you misinterpreted my post. I don't advocate or assume anything. So I don't think I'm forgetting anything.
I think you misinterpreted my post. I don't advocate or assume anything. So I don't think I'm forgetting anything.
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So here is my one and only thought on this.
I couldn't pass the Ranger School if I had wanted to. I am not a Ranger, most of the people arguing about females in the Rangers are not Rangers. Since I nor most of the people arguing about this are even tabbed, we have no clue what we are talking about and are just speculating as to what is required and acceptable. So instead of blabbing about something that most Rangers would probably just roll their eyes at I am going to shut up and move on to a subject that I find meaningful.
I couldn't pass the Ranger School if I had wanted to. I am not a Ranger, most of the people arguing about females in the Rangers are not Rangers. Since I nor most of the people arguing about this are even tabbed, we have no clue what we are talking about and are just speculating as to what is required and acceptable. So instead of blabbing about something that most Rangers would probably just roll their eyes at I am going to shut up and move on to a subject that I find meaningful.
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Times are changing. For a unit like the Rangers (or any other elite unit), they would have to be able to do it at the same standard required of males. No changing standards, period. My concern is whether fellow Rangers would accept females. The SEALs and SF are also going to have to face this issue. Could be a difficult transition.
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
SSG (Join to see) - I understand how you feel. I was at 1st Bat in 79-80 (till I got hurt in a parachute accident). It would be tough, I guess we'll see how it goes should it happen. It's imperative the standards remain the same. Period. If they can hack it, then so be it. Be one tough female...
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SSG (Join to see)
I guess us 1st Batt Rangers won't be called the beach boys for much longer, chief.
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CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret)
SSG (Join to see) - When I was there, I recall a CPT David Grange (C CO?) who had a house on the beach. He had concertina wire surrounding it and fighting positions dug in locations facing the beach. It was used for amphibious and scuba assault practice, LOL. That is until a local resident ran his bike into the concertina wire. Then CPTT Grange's father was Gen Grange, the Army CoS I believe. CPT grange later became a Gen too.
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I'll start my response with simple, undeniable, unchangeable facts:
1. Women have lower bone density than men. This is a result of evolving with -typically- carrying less weight than men.
2. Women's muscles are less dense. Again, a result of evolution.
3. Women have smaller lung capacity. Say it with me: evolution. (I'm leaving religion out of this).
NONE of those points are meant to be insulting. It's just SCIENCE.
Having said that, THERE ARE ALWAYS outliers in statistics. Always. What does this mean? It means that there will be some women strong enough, determined enough, to do SF jobs. And they should be allowed to. If the two current candidates pass Ranger School then, like the males in the active regiment before them, they'll have to go on to additional training, which they will have to ALSO pass, and IF THEY DO...then there is no reason to not activate them in a direct combat capacity.
Where we will run into problems is if we lower the standards to inflate the numbers by picking up women who aren't the outliers. Much the same as you'd have problems if you did the same to get more men.
1. Women have lower bone density than men. This is a result of evolving with -typically- carrying less weight than men.
2. Women's muscles are less dense. Again, a result of evolution.
3. Women have smaller lung capacity. Say it with me: evolution. (I'm leaving religion out of this).
NONE of those points are meant to be insulting. It's just SCIENCE.
Having said that, THERE ARE ALWAYS outliers in statistics. Always. What does this mean? It means that there will be some women strong enough, determined enough, to do SF jobs. And they should be allowed to. If the two current candidates pass Ranger School then, like the males in the active regiment before them, they'll have to go on to additional training, which they will have to ALSO pass, and IF THEY DO...then there is no reason to not activate them in a direct combat capacity.
Where we will run into problems is if we lower the standards to inflate the numbers by picking up women who aren't the outliers. Much the same as you'd have problems if you did the same to get more men.
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SPC Sheila Lewis
point taken, and females have to realize when they decide to enter traditionally male-centric fields the female will have to aspire a higher plateau of effort; they have to "out do" their male counterparts.
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CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner
Will the Army allow females? Sure they will! And if enough do not satisfactory complete it, they will lower the standards. Now should females be allowed? Sure if they want to and meet the standards.
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SN Greg Wright
CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner - Chaps, lowering those standards will result in dead soldiers. With a direct correlation.
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CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner
I agree! Unfortunately, I am not sure if anyone in authority will understand that!
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Gunny, IMO I do not believe it will happen for a while. First women would have to have an MOS that is in the Regiment. Even though everyone that is assigned to the Regiment is not tabbed, I think it will be a while until the Ranger community totally excepts them. MPs in the Army used to be partially closed to women. They couldn't be assigned to platoons that directly supported brigade combat teams. I was in one of the last all male platoons and was in on the selection of the first female in the platoon. She happened to be a 1LT and was the first MP DS (direct support) PL. She did an excellent job as the PL. It was harder getting female enlisted in because of the physical stuff we do. So with that said, IMO the first ones to be assigned will more than likely be in a support MOS.
Gunny, IMO I do not believe it will happen for a while. First women would have to have an MOS that is in the Regiment. Even though everyone that is assigned to the Regiment is not tabbed, I think it will be a while until the Ranger community totally excepts them. MPs in the Army used to be partially closed to women. They couldn't be assigned to platoons that directly supported brigade combat teams. I was in one of the last all male platoons and was in on the selection of the first female in the platoon. She happened to be a 1LT and was the first MP DS (direct support) PL. She did an excellent job as the PL. It was harder getting female enlisted in because of the physical stuff we do. So with that said, IMO the first ones to be assigned will more than likely be in a support MOS.
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We will see if those two female officers graduate this coming week first.
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SN Greg Wright
TSgt Joshua Copeland Well I think everyone is forgetting: Men don't go right from Ranger school into the active Regiment. They go on to further training, don't they? To specialize? So just graduating doesn't earn them the right, I believe. They have to finish it ALL.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SN Greg Wright, It is theoretically possible to go from the course (for men) right to (or more correctly shortly there after) the regiment. It doesn't happen that often that I am aware of because the need isn't there as there are plenty of Ranger qualified men that are in the normal PCS rotational pool. If the were to open of the Regiment to Woman, especially the training area, there is an extremely limited pool (possibly 2 right now) to pull from to it is possible that for the time beginning, if opened, graduating as a woman could lead to an automatic assignment.
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