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First woman completes Navy’s special warfare training to support Seals

July 17, 2021 | 1:48pm | Updated July 17, 2021 | 1:49pm

The first woman has completed the Naval Special Warfare training course for a special-ops group that supports the famous Navy SEALs.

The unidentified woman is now a qualified special warfare combatant-craft crewmen, or SWCC, the Navy said in a news release.

SWCCs “are experts in covert insertion and extraction, utilizing a unique combination of capabilities with weapons, navigation, radio communication, first aid, engineering, parachuting and special operations tactics,” the Navy said.

“Becoming the first woman to graduate from a Naval Special Warfare training pipeline is an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of our teammate,” Rear Adm. H. W. Howard, commander, U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command, said in a statement. “Like her fellow operators, she demonstrated the character, cognitive and leadership attributes required to join our force.”

Only 35% of SWCC candidates make it all the way through the months-long course, the Navy said. After graduation, the new SWCCs will either join a Special Boat Team or report for more training.

the U.S. Navy shows SEAL candidates participating in "surf immersion"
The unidentified woman is now a qualified special warfare combatant-craft crewmen, or SWCC.
AP