Two women pass ranger school

[The Minsky Moment]

If somebody saying they were not lowered is not reasonable what would count? 

If the women who passed were really cross-dressing men, that would be proof.   

[Brazen]

Find the percentage passes for previous years. If they're significantly higher this year, that would be a basic indicator.

[Valmy]

According to this: http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/rtb/content/PDF/Ranger%20School%20web11.pdf

48.99% graduated from 2000-2012.

But I am not sure if we are talking about the same thing since that is twice as high.

[derspiess]

Find the percentage passes for previous years. If they're significantly higher this year, that would be a basic indicator.

It could be.  Or they could just disclose what the standards are and whether they have changed.

edit: this (along with the Marine thing I mentioned earlier) is what makes me question whether standards have been lowered: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2015/0529/All-8-women-fail-Ranger-School-Some-Rangers-say-standards-should-change-video

[Alcibiades]

I'd be curious to see what leadership roles they received and were graded on during their 2nd and 3rd phases as this is what really can make it a hand out or exceptionally difficult.

[alfred russel]

To earn the Ranger tab, applicants must be able to complete 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a five-mile run in 40 minutes, six chin-ups, a swimming test, a land navigation test, a 12-mile foot march in three hours, several obstacle courses, four days of military mountaineering, three parachute jumps, four air assaults on helicopters, multiple rubber boat movements and 27 days of mock combat patrols.

It annoys my OCD side that they didn't round up the push-ups and sit-ups to 50 and 60.

None of the quantifiable ones are very difficult (who knows what the land navigation test entails). My understanding is they put out those standards, but you aren't getting a ranger tab if you can do a max 55 push ups, 7 chin ups, and run 5 miles in 39 minutes. I've read speculation that the standards appear relatively easy so they can keep the massive washout rates (people sign up that think they can make the cut because they can meet the minimums, but really are woefully underprepared).

[PRC]

To earn the Ranger tab, applicants must be able to complete 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a five-mile run in 40 minutes, six chin-ups, a swimming test, a land navigation test, a 12-mile foot march in three hours, several obstacle courses, four days of military mountaineering, three parachute jumps, four air assaults on helicopters, multiple rubber boat movements and 27 days of mock combat patrols.

It annoys my OCD side that they didn't round up the push-ups and sit-ups to 50 and 60.

None of the quantifiable ones are very difficult (who knows what the land navigation test entails). My understanding is they put out those standards, but you aren't getting a ranger tab if you can do a max 55 push ups, 7 chin ups, and run 5 miles in 39 minutes. I've read speculation that the standards appear relatively easy so they can keep the massive washout rates (people sign up that think they can make the cut because they can meet the minimums, but really are woefully underprepared).

Individually they aren't very difficult.  But combined is where the hardship comes in, it's constant physical and mental stress without much rest or food for the x amount of weeks it takes to get through it.

[KRonn]

To earn the Ranger tab, applicants must be able to complete 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a five-mile run in 40 minutes, six chin-ups, a swimming test, a land navigation test, a 12-mile foot march in three hours, several obstacle courses, four days of military mountaineering, three parachute jumps, four air assaults on helicopters, multiple rubber boat movements and 27 days of mock combat patrols.

It annoys my OCD side that they didn't round up the push-ups and sit-ups to 50 and 60.

Really. And why 27 days of mock combat patrols and not 30! 

[grumbler]

According to this: http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/rtb/content/PDF/Ranger%20School%20web11.pdf

48.99% graduated from 2000-2012.

But I am not sure if we are talking about the same thing since that is twice as high.

The ~49% includes a lot of retreads (people taking the course against after failing it the first time).  The ~24% was, as far as I can tell, just for this cycle.  The two women who passed were on their third try.  I'm sure a fair number of the men were, as well.

[The Brain]

Two women pass ranger school 

Is that the joke?

[Admiral Yi]

Speesh, I would take that bet if it were testable.  AFAIK everything is done in front of the whole class.  Too many witnesses with different agendas for a conspiracy.

Though I do agree it is in the military's interests for at least a few women to pass.

[derspiess]

Speesh, I would take that bet if it were testable.

Shock.

AFAIK everything is done in front of the whole class.  Too many witnesses with different agendas for a conspiracy.

Which is why we'll probably eventually hear some anecdotes if my suspicions are correct.

Though I do agree it is in the military's interests for at least a few women to pass.

It's something they really want, yes.  Whether it's in their best interests is debatable. 

[Admiral Yi]

Shock.

[derspiess]

Shock.

You take and offer a lot of bets here. 

[Admiral Yi]

Ah.  I thought you were razzing me.