First Woman Graduates From Us Army’s Sniper School

File Photo- Army Sniper School cadre look on as snipers compet

First woman graduates from US Army’s sniper school
Women are increasingly taking over prominent positions in the Defense Department.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that after completing the seven-week course designed to produce “the most feared weapon on the battlefield,” the first woman has graduated from the US Army’s elite sniper school.

A US flag is pictured on a soldier’s uniform during an artillery live fire event by the US Army

The soldier, who enlisted in the Montana National Guard last December, has not been identified.

According to the Montana National Guard, she was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, for One Station Unit Training, a 22-week school that combines basic training and infantry abilities.

Her outstanding performance, which included qualifying as an expert shooter, drew the attention of the One Station Unit Training officials, who suggested her for sniper school at Fort Benning.

“We are extremely proud of this Soldier’s achievement and recognize that this is a milestone for not only Montana, but the entire National Guard and Army,” said Maj. Gen. J. Peter Hronek, the adjutant general for Montana, in a statement.
Beyond a test of precision shooting, the course also trains soldiers in mission planning, advanced battlefield awareness, complex engagements and more.

“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,” said Capt. David Wright, a battalion commander at the sniper school.

File photo- a sniper

Having become the first woman to graduate from the Army’s sniper school since its establishment in 1987, the soldier will now join her unit in Montana, the Guard said.
Of the 1.3 million members of the active-duty military, only about 17% are women. The Army, Navy and Air Force each have approximately 70,000 women, while the Marine Corps has about 16,000 women, according to data from the Defense Department.

Women are increasingly taking over prominent positions in the Defense Department. Kathleen Hicks is the first woman to be appointed to the position of Deputy Secretary of Defense. When she took over Transportation Command last month, Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost became the second woman to manage a combatant command.

Gen. Laura Richardson took over as head of Southern Command two weeks later. They are now the Defense Department’s only female four-star generals.

Ify Davies