Two women have made US military history after becoming the first female soldiers to pass the army's gruelling Ranger course.
But they still will not be able to serve on the front line while the ban on women in combat roles remains.
Our US correspondent Kate Fisher reports
IN: nat sound "The first..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2'38
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0820rangers-kf-ziz.mp3
SCRIPT:
The first two female American Rangers, each carry a man on their back as they take part in one of the obstacle courses which form part of this grueling 61 day training course.
But despite their success, these women are still not allowed to fight on the front line.
Women are banned from combat roles in the US military but that could be about to change.
By the end of this year the armed services must have cleared a path to eliminate all gender restrictions, or have given the defense secretary strong evidence based reasons why women can’t do the job.
Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, a former soldier who's just published a book about the challenges facing female troops says women are capable of the job but better provision must be made for them on the front line.
“They have menstrual cycles, they can get yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and it’s really important that they can find places to stay clean. Even today women are wearing diapers because there’s not a place for them to safely urinate. If you’re in Afghanistan you can’t just go behind a bush because you may be shot.”
But among visitors to the Women’s military memorial at Arlington National Cemetery not everyone agreed
“God created women different from men, there’s sanitary issues, there’s soldiers mindset - you know men look at a woman and they think of their mom, their sister, their daughter so they have that natural instinct to protect them and that could put them in harm’s way. “
“Physical differences bet a man and a woman that’s obviously an issue but as long they’re able to meet their requirements, it should be fine.”
Speaking last week as he prepared to leave his job as the US Army’s top officer, General Ray Odierno gave the impression the Army could be ready to lift the ban:
“We have really collected some significant analysis. We've done really incredible studies over the last two years.It is about can they meet the standard or not, and if they can, we lean towards the fact it would probably be good if we allowed them to serve. the feedback I've gotten with these women is how incredibly prepared they are. They've impressed all that they've come in contact with. They are clearly motivated and -- and frankly, that's what we want out of our soldiers."
General Odierno also said the Army would be running another coed Ranger School course starting in November, where more women will be trying to follow in the footsteps of the first two female rangers in the history of the US Army. Kate Fisher, Washington