This woman just made history by becoming the first female US Marine to complete gruelling officer training
![A woman has become the first female US Marine to complete the notoriously tough infantry officer training course [Photo: Twitter/@GenRobertNeller]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/enXGYBMqC2ShUxEDzbXVTg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03OTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/8bc99e1d51f341a3b989e9601d93e317)
A woman has just made history by becoming the first female US Marine to complete the notoriously tough infantry officer training course. Go girl!
And the achievement shouldn’t be underestimated.
Just to give an indication of how tough it was, around a quarter of marines who tackle the 13-week course fail to complete it, with one in ten finding it so difficult they end up dropping out on their very first day.
But the lieutenant, who wants to keep her identity private, graduated in Quantico, Virginia, on Monday, becoming the first female officer to do so since it was opened to women in 2016.
Taking to Instagram to share his pride at the lieutenant’s success, Marine Corps commandant General Robert Neller posted a picture of her in training.
“Proud of this officer & her fellow leaders. Now they focus on what’s important: preparing to lead Marines in combat,” he wrote in the accompanying caption.
![[Photo: Twitter/@GenRobertNeller]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3cs8VfR9jIEjyLmat1CZpw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk1OA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/ec9e4ea2f700bdf3dfb556ae0b431a33)
According to a press release issued by the Marines, 131 Marines started the course in July, but only 88 managed to complete the course which trains and educates in leadership, infantry skills and the character required to serve as infantry platoon commanders in the operating forces.
The Marines also tweeted a video showing the female officer undertaking exercises in the mountains alongside her male peers.
“Today, the first female Marine graduated from Infantry Officer Course. Ooh-rah to the future infantry leaders,” the accompanying caption said.
The female officer will now lead a 40-strong platoon, with her first assignment with the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California.
Former president Barack Obama opened all military positions to women back in March 2016.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.
Read more from Yahoo Style UK:
RAF to ban skirts on parade so transgender recruits don’t feel excluded
