The U.S. Navy is planning to open its elite SEAL teams to women who
can pass the grueling training regimen, the service's top officer said
Tuesday, August 18, 2015, in an exclusive interview. Adm. Jon Greenert
said he and the head of Naval Special Warfare Command, Rear Adm. Brian
Losey, believe that if women can pass the legendary six-month Basic
Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, they should be allowed to serve. |
The move to integrate the
military's most storied commando units comes the day after news broke
that two women had passed the Army's arduous Ranger course. Nineteen
women began the course, which has about a 45 percent passing rate.
The Navy has said it is on track to open all ratings to women by next
year, but this is the first indication that the SEALs are leaning
toward accepting candidates. Greenert didn't specify a timeline for
allowing women candidates into BUD/S training.
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command is also conducting
a review of its standards with an eye to including women, according
MARSOC head Maj. Gen. Joseph Osterman. The SEALs would be the latest,
and the last, of the traditionally male-only branches to open to women
during Mabus' tenure.
It's not clear how many women will attempt to join the SEALs when
it opens to them. The percentage of women in expeditionary specialties,
like Seabees and Navy divers, are exceedingly low.
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