Capt Kristen Griest said her successful completion of the elite, two-month program show that women "can deal with the same stresses and training that men can."
Griest and 1st Lt Shaye Haver will graduate at Fort Benning, Georgia, along with 94 men today. Out of 19 women who began the program, Haver and Griest are the only two to finish so far.
Completing the course lets the two women wear the coveted Ranger black-and-gold tab. But for now they're still unable to join the elite 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning. The military's toughest jobs -- including positions in infantry, armor and special operations units such as the Ranger Regiment -- remain closed to women.
"These two soldiers have absolutely earned the respect of every Ranger instructor," Cmd Sgt Major Curtis Arnold told reporters. "They do not quit and they do not complain."
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Arnold said he suspects Haver and Griest had extra motivation to graduate "because you know everyone is watching. And truthfully there are probably a few folks who want you to fail. So you've got to put out 110 percent."
Griest, 26, and Haver, 25, are "happy, relieved, and ready for some good food and sleep" before they line up today with their malecolleagues who also earned the coveted black-and-gold Ranger tab to adorn their uniforms.
The course tests soldiers' ability to overcome fatigue, hunger and stress during combat operations. The Army opened Ranger School to female soldiers for the first time this year as part of the military's push to open more combat jobs to women.