ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (March 18, 2015) -- A Chemical Corps officer, assigned to the 20th CBRNE Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives), has played a pioneering role in gender integration in the U.S. military.
A graduate of the first integrated class at the Virginia Military Institute, Maj. Angela Scott, from the 20th CBRNE Command's CBRNE Coordination Element 5, was one of 26 females to take part in the second Ranger Training Assessment Course, or RTAC, to accept women.
Scott completed the first eight days of the course before departing along with 50 percent of the Soldiers, who attended the training.
Held at the Ranger School on Fort Benning, Georgia, only 58 Soldiers out of 122 who started graduated from the pre-selection course, including five female Soldiers.
"Since I was a teenager, I've had something inside of me that drives me towards a certain lifestyle and beliefs," said Scott, a native of Quinton, Oklahoma. "I believe in never quitting, the extreme loyalty of always having someone's back and always finding a way to get the mission or job done."
"This seems to fit into the lifestyle and philosophy of the Rangers, and therefore, I was drawn to attempting to be a part of that community," Scott said.
Scott said attending the RTAC was an incredible opportunity.
Training for two months before the course, Scott employed the Ranger Physical Training Program and worked on Ranger Tasks, the obstacle course, land navigation, combat water survival and ruck marching.
"I also have two very young children, who are up a lot at night, so this helped out with training for sleep deprivation and learning how to remain calm in certain situations," said Scott.
The major said the RTAC improved her leadership skills and demonstrated the power of teamwork.
Scott added that the training course gave the Soldiers a chance to test their mettle against a rigorous set of standards.
"There should be one standard, and whoever wants to attempt to meet this standard, should be allowed," said Scott, who served in Iraq twice. "If they don't meet the standard, then that's on them."
"America is a place where with hard work, dedication and a dream, you can come from nothing and become someone that greatly contributes to society," said Scott. "The country's military shouldn't be any different."
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