Female marines fail once again to complete grueling officer training course

For only the second time in history women were allowed to compete in the demanding Marine Infantry Officer Course this week - and for the second time none have passed.

The two female officers made it through the first few days of the course, but neither passed Thursday's grueling obstacle course, military officials said.

The Marine Infantry Officer Course is 10 weeks of intense field training at Quantico, Va.



Two female officers made it through the first few days of training, but neither passed Thursday's grueling obstacle course (stock image)

Of the 110 students who began the course to become ground combat leaders at the beginning of this week, 96 are still enrolled.



As well as the two women, 12 men also failed to complete the obstacle course entirely or could not complete it in the allotted time, reports NBCNews .

Marines are tested to endure rigorous physical tests and written exams with little food or sleep, all of which are geared toward pushing them to their physical and mental limits.



Of the 400 Marines who take the course each year, one in four typically drops out.

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, opened the grueling course to women and the military must report back to his successor Chuck Hagel, right



The grueling course has only been open to women since January, when former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta directed U.S. military chiefs to study whether more combat-related jobs could be open to women.



The military must report back to Chuck Hagel, Panetta's successor, with their findings by May 15.



Months before Panetta’s directive, the Marine Corps asked for women to volunteer to try the course as part of the ongoing effort to open more military positions to women.

So far four women have volunteered, but none have successfully completed the course

So far four women have volunteered, but none have successfully completed the course.



Two female lieutenants entered the course last September - the first women ever allowed to do so.



Both eventually dropped out, but one of them made it well into the second week before an injury forced her out.

