First female Army Reserve Soldier graduates from Ranger School [Image

It’s official a third woman is celebrating her elite black and gold ranger tab this afternoon.

U.S. Army First Lt. Shaye Haver, center, and Capt. Kristen Griest, right, pose for photos with other female West Point alumni after an Army Ranger school graduation ceremony, Friday, August 21, 2015, at Fort Benning, Ga.

Rep, Steve Russell, R-Okla., one of two Army Ranger-qualified congressman, has questioned if the women were given special treatment. The two women along with a group from West Point are expected to be in attendance, according to News Leader 9’s Emilie Arroyo.

Jaster, who is graduating with 87 men, joined the army in 2000 and served seven years on active duty, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Washington Post.

Also attending were Jaster’s husband, Marine Lt. Col. Allan Jaster, and two children, Zachary, 7, and Victoria, 3.

Jaster, like Haver and Griest, failed the first patrol phase at Camp Darby twice before being offered on May 29 a chance to start the course over from the beginning.

Major Jaster spent a total of 180 days in the course.

Soldiers who have earned Ranger Tabs, male or female, are not automatically part of the regiment, which has its own requirements and assessment process. Less than 50 percent of the soldiers who start the school pass and only 30 percent of those go straight through without a recycle. Receiving her Ranger badge was a mission accomplished.

The Ranger School opened its door to women in April following a January 2013 decision by the Obama Administration to open all jobs in the military to women, including combat roles.

Jaster, who lives in Houston, TX says she drills out of Huntsville, AL with the Corps of Engineers. They returned to Fort Benning, Georgia today to show their support.