First female soldier in Green Beret training fails to complete the course

The first female soldier to participate in the Army’s initial training program for the Green Berets — side-by-side with men — has failed to complete the course this week, The Washington Times has learned.

The enlisted soldier is the first woman to attend the U.S. Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), the first step toward earning the Special Forces tab and the coveted Green Beret. The Times reported in July that two female officer candidates have been accepted to attend an SFAS class that begins in the spring.

The female soldier, whom Army officials did not identify by name, had reported to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Sept. 2. She passed the physical fitness test and the first half of the grueling, 21-day weeding-out process, during which 10 percent to 15 percent of her classmates dropped out.

During this week’s “Land Navigation” phase of the training, she either withdrew voluntarily, was medically dropped or was administratively removed for not meeting standards, three sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Times. Pending review boards, she may try again. Historically, 1-in-3 candidates pass the entire course.

“An average class is 300 candidates, with a 10-15 percent attrition rate after the physical fitness assessment. The total attrition rate at the end of SFAS is 60 percent,” warfare center spokeswoman Maj. Melody Faulkenberry said in a July interview regarding the first two female officer candidates invited to SFAS.

Army officials would not confirm or deny that a female enlisted soldier was attending SFAS. They would not release

Read More: Washington Times

Featured Image – Candidates work together during a team training event. Soldiers must construct an apparatus with limited supplies and work together to transport a heavy object over rough terrain – DVIDS