The Army Times and Washington Post reported two of the three women attempting the mountain phase of Ranger school have passed and are moving on to the swamp phase at Eglin Air Force Base.  The one women who failed the mountain phase will be allowed to recycle that portion of Ranger School with the next class.

Kudos to the women that passed the mountain phase.  It is reputed to be the most physically demanding phase of the course though the Florida phase has the longest movements.  Statistically the remaining women in the course have a high probability of completing.  Last year the average Ranger school class lost only 4% of its numbers to the swamp phase.

The three women in Ranger school have much to be proud of.  Culled from an Army wide search of women volunteers, 138 women started the pre-Ranger course.  19 of those women started Ranger school with eight completing the first and most difficult phase of Ranger school, the Darby phase.  After two attempts, three female candidates remained.  They all passed the Darby phase at Ft. Benning on their third attempt.

Senior Army leadership has stated this will not be the only iteration of women in Ranger school.  Undiscussed is how the Army will support more experimentation with over 30 women officers temporarily tasked to the course to serve as observers.  Also undiscussed are the resources dedicated to facilitating this experimentation and the advantages to the force of finding the small percentage that can complete the course.