Montana National Guard soldier becomes first woman to graduate the Army's grueling seven-week sniper course after all combat jobs in military opened to women in 2015
- The soldier, who asked not to be identified, graduated from the Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on November 5 after two months of training
- Prior to joining sniper school, the soldier had been qualified as an expert shooter at the Fort Benning Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT)
- 'There wasn't a doubt in our minds that she would succeed' Capt. Joshua O'Neill, the OSUT company commander, said in a statement
- To complete the sniper program, soldiers must prove they are capable of delivering long-range fire and collecting and reporting battlefield information
- In 2015, all combat jobs in the military became fully available to women. Since then, women soldiers have achieved top charges within the force
For the first time in the Army's history, a woman successfully completed the seven-week sniper course, Montana National Guard announced on Monday.
The soldier, who asked not to be identified, joined the Montana National Guard in December 2020.
She graduated from the Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on November 5 after two months of intensive training.
'She arrived prepared for training and physically conditioned to succeed. We are proud of the results of her efforts and the quality training provided by the Sniper Course Cadre,' Captain David Wright, the Battalion Commander, said in a press release.
The soldier, who asked not to be identified, graduated from the Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on November 5 after two months of training. Above, Fort Banning
Student soldiers are also trained on other sniper-related skills such as advanced camouflage techniques, concealed movement and target detection
The Montana National guard, where the soldier enlisted, proudly announced her history-making graduation
Prior to joining sniper school, the soldier had been qualified as an expert shooter at the Fort Benning Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT), Task Purpose reported.
She was sent to Fort Benning to complete the 22-week OSUT course that combines Army basic training with advanced individual training in infantry skills.
Her chain of command and training staff then recommended her to become a sniper, and the soldier proved her commitment to her service by volunteering several times to reach his goal, Maj. Gen. J. Peter Hronek said.
'There wasn't a doubt in our minds that she would succeed' Capt. Joshua O'Neill, the OSUT company commander, added in a statement.
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'We're all incredibly proud of her,' O'Neill added. 'She epitomizes what it means to be an infantry Soldier and there wasn't a doubt in our minds that she would succeed in the U.S. Army Sniper Course.'
To complete the sniper program, soldiers must prove they are capable of delivering long-range, precision fire and that they're qualified to collect and report battlefield information.
They also learn other sniper-related skills such as advanced camouflage techniques, concealed movement, target detection, range estimation, and stalking.
Any military branch or federal agency can send candidates to sniper school.
However, the extenuating conditions do not allow for all of those who attend to successfully complete the program. Instructors estimate that around 60 percent of the soldier students drop out.
Throughout the decades, women have overcome gender barriers deeply instilled in the military, entering careers in the special forces and further paving the way for other women after them.
Last year, an unnamed female sailor completed the taxing 37-week training course to become a Naval Special Warfare combatant-craft crewman.
Also in 2020, a National Guard soldier became the first to join the Green Berets.
Captain Katie Wilder was the Army's first female to complete the course to become a Green Beret in 1981 but was disqualified just after graduation. After filing a sex discrimination suit, it was found that she had 'been wrongly denied graduation.'
In 2015, all combat jobs in the military became fully available to women. Since then, women soldiers have achieved top charges within the force.
From the Marines to the Green Berets: Women in the US Armed Forces throughout the decades
Opha May Johnson was the first woman known to have enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
1918 - First woman to enlist the Marines, Opha May Jackson
In 1918, the Secretary of Navy allowed women to enroll for clerical duty in the Marine Corps. Officially, Opha May Johnson is credited as the first woman Marine. Johnson enrolled for service on August 13, 1918; during that year some 300 women first entered the Marine Corps to take over stateside clerical duties from battle-ready Marines who were needed overseas. The Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established in February 1943. June 12th, 1948, Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act and made women a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps.
Staff Sgt. Esther McGowin Blake was the 'first woman in the Air Force'
1948 - First woman in the Air Force, Esther McGowin Blake
Staff Sgt. Esther McGowin Blake has the distinction of being the 'first woman in the Air Force.' She enlisted in the first minute of the first hour of the first day regular Air Force duty was authorized for women on July 8, 1948.
Blake originally enlisted in March 1944, in Miami in the Army Air Forces, served one year in the Alaskan division and was discharged in November 1945. She reenlisted in April 1947 and was assigned to the ground force but seized the first opportunity to return to the Army Air Forces.
CSM Michelle Jones was the first woman to become top enlisted advisor of the Army Reserve
2002 - First woman Command Sergeant Major, Michelle Jones
Michelle Jones was the first woman in the US Army Reserve to reach the position of command sergeant major and was at one time the highest-ranking female enlisted person in any branch of the United States military, as well as the highest-ranking enlisted African American in the Army Reserve.
2003
Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa was the first Native American woman in history to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military and the first woman in the U.S. military killed in the Iraq War.
SGT Leigh Ann Hester is one of the few women to be awarded for valor in close-quarters combat
2004 - First woman to be awarded the Silver Star since World War II
SGT Leigh Ann Hester becomes the first woman to be awarded the Silver Star since World War II and the first ever to be awarded the Silver Star for direct combat action.
Leigh Ann Hester was a sergeant with the National Guard's Kentucky-based 617th Military Police Company when she was deployed to Iraq, and in 2005, she was scanning and clearing a route for a supply convoy near Baghdad when her squad was ambushed by enemy fire.
Monica Lin Brown is a United States Army sergeant and medic who became the first woman during the War in Afghanistan
2007 - First woman in Afghanistan, Monica Brown
SPC. Monica Brown becomes the first woman to serve in Afghanistan and the second woman since World War II to be awarded the Silver Star. Monica Lin Brown was born on May 24, 1988 in Lake Jackson, Texas. She joined the United States Army at the age of 17. She became a Combat Medic and has risen to the rank of Sergeant.
Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody becomes the first woman four-star general in military history and the first woman to lead a major Army command
2008 - First woman to earn the rank of four-star general in the entire armed forces, Ann E. Dunwoody
Ann E. Dunwoody is the first woman to earn the rank of four-star general not only in the Army, but the entire U.S. armed forces. General Dunwoody joined the Army in 1974, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Women's Army Corps in 1975 and her first assignment was as supply platoon leader, 226th Maintenance Company (Forward, Direct Support), 100th Supply and Services Battalion (Direct Support), in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
2010
Sergeant Sherri Gallegher becomes first woman to win Best Warrior Soldier of the Year.
2011
LTG Patricia Horoho becomes first woman and first nurse to lead the U.S. Army Medical Command.
BG Gwen Bingham becomes the first woman to serve as quartermaster general and the first African-American woman Quartermaster Corps general.
2012
Brig. Gen. Margaret W. Burcham is the first woman to be promoted to general officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
2013
Brig. Gen. Flora D. Darpino is promoted to three stars, and becomes the Army's 39th Judge Advocate General. She is the first woman in the JAG 236 year history to serve as the top lawyer.
2015
Two women graduate Ranger school for the first time, Kristen Griest and Capt. Shaye Haver.
Ranger School graduate CPT Kristen Griest is Army's first woman infantry officer; she is assigned to Fort Benning
2016 - First woman Infantry Officer, Kristen Griest
In 2011, Kristen Griest was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Police branch – an option available to women where she felt would give her experience closest to the infantry. She was assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team 'Currahee' of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where she served as an MP Platoon Leader from 2012-2014. She also deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 where she led over 100 missions outside the wire performing convoy escorts and working with the Afghan Army during Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment, she was awarded a Bronze Star Medal.
2021
An unnamed female sailor has successfully completed the grueling 37-week training course to become a Naval Special Warfare combatant-craft crewman.
An unidentified soldier successfully completed the seven-week Army Sniper Course.
Source: Foundation for Women Warriors
