Washington (CNN) The U.S. Navy is preparing to allow women into the ranks of its SEAL teams, the Navy's chief operations officer told Defense News on Tuesday.

"Why shouldn't anybody who can meet these (standards) be accepted? And the answer is, there is no reason," Adm. Jon Greenert told the publication. "So we're on a track to say, 'Hey look, anybody who can meet the gender non-specific standards, then you can become a SEAL.'"

If women can pass the unit's demanding training requirements, Greenert said, they will be allowed into the elite force. Officials did not reveal to Defense News when they plan to allow women to compete for a spot.

Commander William Marks with Navy Public Affairs confirmed Greenert's statement to CNN.

The announcement by the Navy comes as two women are about to become the first female soldiers to graduate from the Army's Ranger School on Friday.

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