The US Marine Corps’ Infantry is about to get a lot more interesting- the first female military officer is anticipated to graduate from the Infantry Officer Course.
The lieutenant -who has not been named- completed her three-week combat exercise yesterday, leaving her only the administration portion of her 13-week course before graduation.
The IOC has a reasonably high attrition rate, with over 25% of students washing out into support roles.
The young junior officer is the first of nearly forty female Marine officers who have tried -and failed- to complete the course.
The class will mark graduation on Monday with a “Warrior Breakfast in Quantico, Virginia.”
According to The Washington Post, the lieutenant will be the first female infantry officer in the Corps, nearly two years since then-Defense Secretary Ashton Carter lifted the ban on women in combat units.
The course begins with combat endurance tests, including ruck marches, obstacles courses and land navigation, often with loads up to 152 lbs. The final exercise includes a live-fire exercise in Twentynine Palms, California.
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