Three women passed the Marine Corps’ tough physical test to become infantry officers, potentially paving the way for women to lead Marines into combat.
Two dozen female Marines have tried since the course opened to women in 2012, the
Christian Science Monitor reports.
Under an order from the Secretary of Defense, services must open all combat jobs to women by January 2016.
The three women who passed the Combat Endurance Test will go on to try to complete the rest of the Infantry Officers Course – and if they do, they'll be the first women ever to do so, the Monitor notes.
Other services also are wrestling with how to integrate women in the military,
The Washington Post reports.
Army Ranger School opened to women for the first time, on an experimental basis at least, The Post reports.