U.S. Army Gets Its First Female Infantry Officer

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Capt. Kristen Griest, one of two women who graduated from the Army's prestigious Ranger school last year, will also become Army's first female infantry officer.

She's expected to graduate today from the Maneuver Captain's Career Course, according to a report in the Army Times.

In 2015, Griest and Lt. Shaye Haver made history when they became the first women to ever complete the grueling Rangers course.

Later that year, on Dec. 3, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced that all gender-based restrictions on positions in the military would be lifted -- despite the Marine Corps' request for partial exemption -- starting in 2016.

The move paved the way for Griest and other women, opening up positions for them in the infantry, armor and Special Forces Fields, the Army Times reports.

Many are expected to follow in Griest's footsteps. Earlier this month, the Army announced that it had approved requests from 22 female cadets to enter as second lieutenants in the infantry and armor branches.

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