A female soldier made history on Monday by becoming the first women to complete the United States Marine Corps’ infantry officer training program in its 250 year history.
The soldier, who has chosen to remain anonymous, graduated from the Marines’ infantry officer coarse in Quantico, Virginia, according to ABC News.
The servicewoman is the first to complete the officer’s training program since it opened all military occupational specialties (MOS) to women in Spring 2016.
A soldier made history by becoming Marine Corps’ first female infantry officer on Monday
It is the first time in the Marine’s 250 year history a woman has graduated from the coarse in Quantico, Virginia
Three other women have attempted and failed to graduate from the program.
‘I am proud of this officer and those in her class who have earned the infantry officer MOS,’ Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a press release Monday.
The 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton will now be headed by the female soldier, marking her first assignment.
‘Infantry officer course is the MOS-producing school for Marine Corps infantry officers and the prerequisite course for ground intelligence officers,’ the release said.
‘The grueling 13-week course trains and educates newly selected infantry and ground intelligence officers in leadership, infantry skills and character required to serve as infantry platoon commanders in the operating forces.’
Before Monday, three other women had attempted to complete the required training coarse
Of the 133 prospective applicants, 88 finished the training, according ABC News.
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter decided to lift a ban barring women from serving in military combat roles in 2015, opening the door for female soldiers to fight on the front lines ever.
At the time, only the Marine Corps recommend that women still be prevented from serving in combat units, despite every other branch of the militray taking the opposite view.
‘We are a joint force, and I have decided to make a decision which applies to the entire force,’ Carter said in 2015.
The 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton will now be headed by the unidentified female soldier