U.S. Army Capt. Kristen Griest, an Orange native, made history for a second time on April 28 when she became the first female officer permitted to lead an infantry unit in combat.
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Griest rose to national attention last Fall by successfully completing Army Ranger training, one of only two women to ever do so.
While Griest is the first female infantry officer, she certainly won’t be the last. The Army has approved 22 requests made in April for officer training.
In December, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced that all roles within the military would be opened to women. Previously, women were not allowed to lead troops in combat, though they had been able to see active combat duty.