Women in Combat Arms/ SOF Discussion

[Brill]

He said during Airborne school that his platoon had to stand in a large circle facing inwards, two Soldiers from opposite sides were selected by the cadre, one had to chase the other, if the chasee was caught, the chaser whipped him with his web belt.

There has to be a choir boy joke in there somewhere.

 

[AWP]

There's this gem: a 40 YO PA in a medical unit who out Crossfit's "a Ranger and a Green Beret." At least they are making them buzz cut their hair.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/...s-to-blaze-a-trail-to-elite-army-rangers.html

I'd laugh if this wasn't so sad.

 

[Brill]

There's this gem: a 40 YO PA in a medical unit who out Crossfit's "a Ranger and a Green Beret." At least they are making them buzz cut their hair.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/...s-to-blaze-a-trail-to-elite-army-rangers.html

I'd laugh if this wasn't so sad.

Great. Another slam against us old folk.

 

[AWP]

Great. Another slam against us old folk.

I'm 41 and have no doubt some senior citizens can make it. A 40 YO woman? I applaud her for trying at least while I detest the media coverage.

Now the rest of you, get off our lawn!

 

[Ranger Psych]

And once again, this falls under the "fucking why" considering the investment to return. Burning slots on a "short" female when you could send anyone else.

 

[CDG]

There's this gem: a 40 YO PA in a medical unit who out Crossfit's "a Ranger and a Green Beret." At least they are making them buzz cut their hair.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/...s-to-blaze-a-trail-to-elite-army-rangers.html

I'd laugh if this wasn't so sad.

It might be slightly newsworthy if she was using the same weights in the CF workouts. She's not. Even CF, who in the early days said that there shouldn't be different weights for men and women because there aren't different weights in life, programs lighter weights for women.

How many hoops would a 40 year-old male PA have to jump through to go to RS?

 

[AWP]

The whole article reeks of NGB politics...

 

[digrar]

Flat track bully. Double her weight with pack, webbing and rifle and the hare will become the tortoise.

 

[8654Maine]

I went through jump school in '89. I have no idea if pull-ups were necessary.

Of course, I went after Scuba then Ranger school. I thought it was a nice time to catch up on rest and relaxation.

 

[Centermass]

So... "JAFO's"?
(see also, Blue Thunder)

Yes. As per this post I made earlier. And no, they are NOT RI's.

http://www.shadowspear.com/vb/threa...y-ranger-school-discussion.22188/#post-353102

Funny how the ARTB FB page has now been pulled and no longer exists.....:-"

 

[Viper1]

Her ability to out-Crossfit male Soldiers does not equal graduating Ranger school. Journalistic garbage.

Kudos to her for the effort. The pioneers catch the arrows but it always good to see trailblazers stepping forward.

 

[ThunderHorse]

It's worth noting that RTAC is for National Guard and the class size capacity is 54 but in March it jumps to 100. Why is that?

When I was at Benning, every Armor LT went to RTAC. Those posts that do not run a pre-ranger usually send Soldiers to RTAC as well.

Met a female Arty LT that is tiny who is one of the candidates, she sports the a GOs tab in her pocket.

You guys talking about Airborne school, my French Professor talked about how SF basically recruited from Airborne School and the 82nd. That Airborne School was tough enough, and that SFAS was more about aptitude than a straight up physical killer as Q course wasn't exactly for the faint of heart. This is a guy who in his late 50s would ruck 10 miles for lunch in his silkies when he was Dean of the Institute.

 

[Brill]

When I was at Benning, every Armor LT went to RTAC. Those posts that do not run a pre-ranger usually send Soldiers to RTAC as well.

Explains why we can't get slots!

 

[Centermass]

First-ever gender integrated Ranger Training Assessment Course completed here

FORT BENNING, Georgia – Fifty-eight Soldiers completed the Ranger Training Assessment Course (RTAC) Jan. 30 at the Army National Guard’s Warrior Training Center here, including 5 women who will potentially be among the first to attend the U.S. Army Ranger Course in the spring.

The Army’s decision to go forward with an assessment of the Ranger Course was announced Jan. 15, and units across the Army are now sending qualified female Soldiers to RTAC here in preparation for the first Ranger course with male and female Soldiers.

“This first iteration of an integrated RTAC has provided significant lessons learned as we conduct a deliberate and professional way forward to the integrated assessment in April,” said Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning.

RTAC assesses eligible Army Active Duty, National Guard and foreign military soldiers, on their ability to meet the challenges of Ranger Course. Historically, more than half of the Soldiers who complete RTAC will successfully complete the Ranger Course.

RTAC was designated a pre-requisite for all women who wish to be part of the Ranger Course Assessment. The course is designed to improve the combat arms functional skills of officer and enlisted volunteers.

“The cadre was impressed with the level of physical fitness and dedication of the majority of female volunteers,” said Lt. Col. Edmund "Beau" Riely, commander, ARNG Warrior Training Center. The most common reaction among the cadre was appreciation that there were no changes to the standards, he said.

RTAC is two weeks long and consists of two phases. The first phase, assessment, mirrors the assessment phase at Ranger School, and is designed to assess a Soldier's physical and mental abilities. During this phase, a student conducts a PT test, a swim test, land navigation, and a 6-mile foot march. The second phase of RTAC, the field training exercise, is designed to assess and train Soldiers on troop leading procedures and patrolling, skills which will be used extensively during the Ranger Course.

A Soldier who completes RTAC should be able to demonstrate physical and mental preparedness for the U.S. Army Ranger Course as well as apply troop leading procedures; navigate various terrain while dismounted, and develop and carry out combat orders for combat patrols to the same standard as the U.S. Army Ranger Course.

This is the first of four consecutive iterations of RTAC prior to the Ranger Course Assessment, which begins April 20. The final three RTAC courses with male and female students will be conducted Feb. 6-21, March 6-21 and April 3-18.

 

[CDG]

A further breakdown on what Centermass posted above: http://www.armytimes.com/story/mili...5/02/04/pre-ranger-assessment-women/22875325/

5 women equated to 19% (26 started) and all 5 were officers. 55% of men completed the assessment course ( 53 out of 96). Of the 26 women, 19 were officers, 6 were NCOs, and 1 was a SPC. 16 women completed the course, but only 5 of those had met the minimum standards.

 

[AWP]

A further breakdown on what Centermass posted above: http://www.armytimes.com/story/mili...5/02/04/pre-ranger-assessment-women/22875325/

5 women equated to 19% (26 started) and all 5 were officers. 55% of men completed the assessment course ( 53 out of 96). Of the 26 women, 19 were officers, 6 were NCOs, and 1 was a SPC. 16 women completed the course, but only 5 of those had met the minimum standards.

I wish we knew the breakdown of Branch/ MOS for all involved.

 

[digrar]

5 Officers passed, how many of the remaining 21 were also Officers?

 

[CDG]

5 Officers passed, how many of the remaining 21 were also Officers?

14. See post #171 for a breakdown of Enlisted vs Officer.

 

[ThunderHorse]

The majority of those men will have reported to RTB today or next Sunday if that's when they class up. All five of those women have gone back to their units and will report after Best Ranger. They get to heal up, gives them a better shot, but is not consistent with what the males are required to go through. How do I know this...I know one of the ladies that passed, she has a sapper tab.

 

[8654Maine]

The majority of those men will have reported to RTB today or next Sunday if that's when they class up. All five of those women have gone back to their units and will report after Best Ranger. They get to heal up, gives them a better shot, but is not consistent with what the males are required to go through. How do I know this...I know one of the ladies that passed, she has a sapper tab.

And that is the travesty. Equal isn't.