First Female Soldiers Graduate From Army Ranger School: See Pics!

The two were among four hundred soldiers, including 19 women, who began the training in April. It marked the first time women were allowed to participate.

However, Griest and Haver are not allowed to join the Ranger Regiment, which has its own selection process and whose troops have been deployed in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, or hold other infantry jobs or positions in the Army special forces.

In 2013, the Pentagon overturned a longtime ban on women serving in front-line combat positions. The new policy takes effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Military officials also have until then to seek exceptions for certain positions they believe are too physically demanding for women.

"I do hope that with our performance in Ranger School, we have been able to inform that decision as to what they can expect from women in the military—that we can handle things physically, mentally on the same level as men, and we can deal with the same stresses in training that the men can," said Griest, according to Reuters.

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