Marine Corps to graduate female infantry officer: report
BY
- 09/21/17 01:48 PM EDT
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A woman is expected to break a major gender barrier in the Marine Corps by becoming the first female infantry officer to serve in the military branch next week, according to a Thursday report.
The female officer is expected to graduate along with her male counterparts on Monday after passing an intense combat course that was part of a 13-week training program, according to
The Post reports that the course is considered to be one of the most difficult military tests, with roughly 25 percent of students failing.
Thirty-two women reportedly tried and failed as of the spring of 2015 to complete the Infantry Officer Course after it was opened to women on a research basis in 2012.
Another four women, including the officer expected to graduate, have attempted to complete the course since 2015, according to the Post.
The officers just wrapped a three week combat exercise at the Marine Corps training center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Wednesday.
The female lieutenant is not likely to do interviews and opted to keep her privacy, according to the Post report, which did not provide her name.
The report comes almost two years after the Obama administration removed the remaining restrictions on women serving in the military.
reported in July that two women had become the first women to enlist as candidates to