Two women pass ranger school

[jimmy olsen]

I'm surprised, didn't think I'd see the day. Only 96 of 400 candidates passed, 2 out of the 19 female candidates.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-women-make-history-passing-armys-elite-ranger-school-n411506

[Eddie Teach]

I bet Caitlin Jenner could pass it.

[Martinus]

I saw the thread title and immediately thought "Only Tim could have started that".

[Valmy]

Amazing what people can do if you give them a chance.

[Brazen]

But historic barriers remain.

Unlike the 94 men who will graduate Friday, the two women won't be allowed to apply to join the join the 75th Ranger Regiment, the elite Special Operations force.

It remains closed to women.

Back in the kitchen then, ladies.

[Valmy]

Oh for...two steps forward one step back. 

[derspiess]

Ten bucks says they really lowered standards despite what they claim.  I know DoD was pressuring the Marines to lower their infantry officer course standards because no women were getting through.  Diversity above all else.

[Kleves]

Ten bucks says they really lowered standards despite what they claim.  I know DoD was pressuring the Marines to lower their infantry officer course standards because no women were getting through.  Diversity above all else.

Standards were apparently still high enough to weed out most of the men. As long as the standards were the same for men and women, this is a pretty cool accomplishment.

[Brazen]

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.

[Brazen]

Ten bucks says they really lowered standards despite what they claim.  I know DoD was pressuring the Marines to lower their infantry officer course standards because no women were getting through.  Diversity above all else.

Retired Ranger Roger Carstens, a senior fellow in national security at the nonprofit Foreign Policy Research Institute, told NBC News that when he went through the course he thought women couldn't do it. Now, he said, he believes women can be integrated into all parts of the Army without compromising combat readiness.

"The key is maintaining the standards," Carstens said. "To lower those standards to fit a quota is a disservice to comrades and country and could result in mission failure."

24% of males and 10% of females passed.

[derspiess]

I saw what the retired dude said.  I'm just saying ten bucks says we find out the standards were indeed reduced, given that is something the DoD is now pushing elsewhere.

[derspiess]

As long as the standards were the same for men and women, this is a pretty cool accomplishment.

I'll be impressed if it can reasonably be proven that previous standards were not lowered.

[Valmy]

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

[The Minsky Moment]

derspeiss' masculinity is threatened by the femirangers.

[derspiess]

derspeiss' masculinity is threatened by the femirangers.

Nah, I think it's cute.  I'm just suspicious of this DoD.