Army Ranger course now open to women

For the first time, women will be able to participate in the next Army Ranger course assessment, although none will be able to join the regiment or serve as Rangers in combat.

About 60 women are expected to take part, the Los Angeles Times reports. Only men can serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment, but women who graduate from the course will be able to wear the Army Ranger tab. In order to participate, a candidate must be able to run 5 miles in under 40 minutes, do six chin-ups with palms in, and complete 49 push-ups and 59 sit-ups, each within two minutes. The 62-day course will start in April.

In 2012, the Pentagon lifted its ban on women in combat, and by January 2016, the military is required to open all combat jobs to women or seek an exception. Allowing women to participate in the course is considered a bit of an experiment as well as a step in the right direction of bringing men and women together into combat units.

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