SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah National Guard soldier will be among a handful of women going to the grueling U.S. Army Ranger school as part of the first steps toward integrating the elite combat unit.
First Lt. Alessandra Kirby of South Salt Lake is among 31 women from around the nation who will report in January to Ranger school at Fort Benning, which is designed to push soldiers to the edge to find those suited for the most high-risk combat jobs.
The women are observers and advisers, not yet eligible to become Rangers. Instead, their experiences will help inform Army leaders about whether and how to bring in women.
“Right up front, they didn’t fool anyone,” Kirby said. “They said, ‘If you’re looking to become the very first female Ranger this might not be for you. Right now, we need females that are willing to provide service.'”
For the 37-year-old, entering the program was about becoming a better soldier, something the native of Brazil said she’s been passionate about since she was a child. She enlisted in 2008, shortly after becoming a U.S. citizen.