commander of the airborne and ranger training brigade. >> each and every one was treated as a ranger. it didn't matter if they were a male or female, they were treated the same. i'd be proud to serve along each and every one of the ranger graduates tomorrow in combat or elsewhere. the women impressed me. they met the standard and they are ranger qualified individuals. >> despite the honor, despite all they endured, the two women cannot aemploy to join the 75th ranger regiment, an elite special ops force. women are not allowed to apply and serve in position that would put them in direct frontline combat. a u.s. army spokesperson told us in 2013 then defense secretary leon panetta, formally lifted the official ban on women in combat. however, all branches of the military have until january 1, 2016, to decide which position, if any, they want to keep off limits to women. despite being barred from combat