First female Army Rangers

On Friday morning, Texas earns an important distinction.

It can claim home-state status of 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, one of two women to graduate from Army Ranger School.

Those who have endured the grueling Ranger training know what a tremendous undertaking it is.

But Haver and her fellow female graduate, Capt. Kristen Griest, deserve additional recognition as the only two women of the 20 who qualified to attend the first gender-integrated Ranger School and completed the program.

While they certainly have shattered a glass ceiling, their graduation won’t put them on the path to combat just yet.

The Pentagon is still deciding about the future of women in combat, more than two years after the Department of Defense opened all jobs to women.

Some observers believe Haver and Griest’s history-making move should once and for all prove that women are prepared to meet the military’s most demanding ground combat assignments.

Still others have their doubts about the ultimate impact of gender-integrated combat forces.

The secretary of defense has some time to figure things out. After receiving input from leaders with each of the armed services, Ash Carter will determine how the military will proceed.

Haver and Griest provide some inspiration.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "First female Army Rangers."