Black Infantry Officer Is First Woman to Compete in Army’s Best Ranger Competition

First Lt. Gabrielle White made history as the first woman to compete in the U.S. Army’s grueling Best Ranger Competition. Teaming up with Capt. Seth Deltenre, White finished 14th out of 52 teams — a significant achievement in the physically and mentally punishing three-day event. Participants endure over 60 miles of movement and 30+ challenges including obstacle courses, weapons tests, and navigation drills with minimal rest. A 2021 West Point graduate and 2022 Ranger School alumna, White is currently assigned to Fort Benning’s Maneuver Captains Career Course. Though a major milestone for gender integration in the Army, her groundbreaking participation has gone unacknowledged in official Army communications due to a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion acknowledgments under the Trump administration. As of January 2025, 154 women have graduated from Ranger School since the program opened to women in 2015.

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Source: AP News