海角大神

Halfway through its preparations for the first-ever coed Ranger School in April, the Army took a moment to publicly take stock of how women are doing.

Eight military officials, one of them a woman, held a briefing Tuesday to talk about topics ranging from the need to add bras to soldiers' packing list to why more women (and men) than expected failed to complete the most recent Ranger Training Assessment Course (RTAC).

Female soldiers must pass the RTAC in Fort Benning, Ga., to enroll in Ranger School, the first US Special Operations Force school to open its doors to women. So far, six women have done it, with two courses finished and two remaining.

In all, 43 women have attempted the course, leading to a pass rate of 14 percent. The pass rate for men this year has been 45 percent (89 of 196). But the officials say that they have been encouraged by the spirit of camaraderie displayed by the women.

Yet officials say they were struck by the fact that the women 鈥渄ecided they wanted to continue to train,鈥� said Maj. William 鈥淪hep鈥� Woodard, a company commander with the United States Army National Guard Warrior Training Center at Fort Benning. He called the decision 鈥渘oteworthy.鈥�

The remaining woman, whom the Army has not named, 鈥渄id have support the entire time,鈥� said Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Eaton, a Ranger instructor. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 her against the world.鈥�

At this point, even if women do pass Ranger School in April, they will not be able to serve in the Army's most elite unit. The military ban on women in combat remains, though a review is expected to be completed by next January. Earning a prestigious Ranger tab, however, would be a historic achievement.

Officials are already doing what they can to make sure prospective women Rangers are treated equally. All aspiring Rangers at Fort Benning share the same barracks, regardless of sex. The 1970s-era facilities include buildings that have just one latrine 鈥� leading to prescheduled times in which men or women can use the bathroom.

Male soldiers are gradually adjusting to the presence of women in the course, said Sgt. 1st Class Tiffany Easter, who is assigned as one of the female observer/advisers for the program.

鈥淎 lot of the Rangers have never worked with females before, so they are not sure how to handle issues鈥� such as 鈥減ersonal hygiene and things like that,鈥� she said.

For their part, the officials had to remember to make additions to the usual list of items for soldiers to pack. 鈥淲e鈥檝e never had women attend, so we鈥檝e had to add bras,鈥� said Col. David Fivecoat, commander of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade.

In addition to making allowances for the women, the observers say they have also taken care to make sure women don鈥檛 receive special treatment during the course, 鈥渘ot intentionally, but just from the fact that they are a woman,鈥� says Sergeant First Class Easter. 鈥淚f we see anything like that, we鈥檒l let the instructors know.鈥�

The officials acknowledged that they were a bit disappointed with the pass rate from the February training session: 100 soldiers 鈥� 17 of whom were women 鈥� began the course, and 36 passed it, one of whom was a woman.聽

鈥淭he success rate was considerably lower鈥� than for the average class, said Major Woodard.

鈥淔or whatever reason, this was an underperforming class for men and well as for women,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 like to see that.鈥�

Whether it was the weather or the fitness level of participants was still up for debate, the briefers said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking pretty closely for that trend,鈥� says Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general at Fort Benning.

Sergeant First Class Eaton hazarded a guess. 鈥淔or the females, sometimes with their pushups it鈥檚 the form,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a few of them who do not have the physical capability鈥� to perform 49 push-ups.

鈥淲e also have the same problem with male students that arrive at Ranger School 鈥� it鈥檚 not just the women,鈥� added Colonel Fivecoat. 鈥淲e lost at least three-score students yesterday for push-ups alone.鈥�

To pass the physical fitness portion of the course, soldiers must also do six chin-ups, 59 sit-ups, and run 2.5 miles in 20 minutes.

The woman who passed in February is an Apache pilot and first lieutenant from Fort Carson in Colorado.

鈥淪he did well,鈥� said Woodard. 鈥淚鈥檇 expect her to acquit herself pretty well at Ranger School.鈥�