“The Special Forces Assessment and Selection process, and subsequent Special Forces qualification training are very challenging experiences — experiences that can be made more difficult with the additional pressure that often comes with focused media attention on particular individuals due to their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation,” Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt, the command’s public affairs director, said in an email.
The female soldier’s failure to complete the Special Forces class follows reports earlier this month that the first woman to try out for the 75th Ranger Regiment has failed to complete the course. The 75th Ranger Regiment is an elite group of light-infantry soldiers specializing in day and night raids often on short-notice combat deployments around the world.