WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) — Rep. Steve Russell, R-Okla., is investigating whether two female U.S. Army Ranger School graduates were held to the same standards as the male recruits.
Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver successfully completed the arduous training program, the first female soldiers to do so, in August. The Army announced it would open the school to women on a full-time basis.
A third, unidentified female soldier is currently enrolled in the Ranger program.
Russell, a Ranger graduate and Iraq veteran, sent a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh asking for documentation of the test scores, evaluations and other material regarding the training of Griest and Haver, People magazine reported.
Daniel Susskind, communications director of Russell’s office, told the Columbus, Ga., Ledger-Enquirer, “Our office recently received information from some people with the Ranger school who alleged they were not held to the same standards. We asked for the records to make sure that all of the people who passed the course deserved to pass it.”
The Pentagon plans to open all combat positions to women by Jan. 1, 2016, excluding any specific exceptions recommended by the branches of service.
McHugh has not yet responded to Russell’s request.
