Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear this interview. The first group of women ever graduated from the U.
S. Army's infantry training for enlisted soldiers earlier this month. The 18 women,who were part of a class of 137, completed the grueling program more than four years after the Obama Administration ordered the Pentagon to open all combat positions to women.
The Army isn't making a major point of this milestone. In fact, or the infantry graduation didn't even address the gender landmark. However,Army officials did steal pains to create it clear that it did not lower a single standard for the female recruits. They had to pass all the same tests, including hurling a grenade 35 meters, or dragging a 268-pound dummy 15 meters,running five miles in less than 45 minutes and completing a 12-mile march carrying 68 pounds.
All that led to a dropout rate among female recruits of 44 percent — more than double the men. Commanders say that number is in line with other tough training, like the boot camps for military police.
Ellen Haring is a West Point graduate and retired Army colonel. Now serving as director of the Service Women's Institute at the Service Women’s Action Network, or she joins The Takeaway to discuss what this gender milestone means for women in combat.
Source: thetakeaway.org