MIDTERM: Part 2
Two Women Become US Army
Last week, two women completed a training program at the United States Army’s Ranger School. The Army will not let the women join a combat force, like many male Rangers do. But that may soon change.
The women made history when they completed the Ranger training program at Fort Benning in Georgia. Many believe it is the most difficult training in the military. No woman had ever before finished the program.
Many of the men who complete Ranger training join a combat unit. But Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver cannot. They are now Rangers, but they cannot serve in combat. Kristen Griest says she wants to join a combat unit. Until then, she will return to her military police unit. Shaye Haver will return to flying helicopters.
Military leaders are now considering which combat jobs to open to female members of the armed forces. The leaders have until January 1st to suggest those positions to the Department of Defense. If the military believes women should be permitted to join Ranger units, Ms. Griest and Ms. Haver could be the first to join.
Paul Scharre is a retired Army Ranger. He thinks women should be permitted to join combat units.
He says, “Why should we disqualify 50 percent of the population? If people can meet the standards then we want them.”
VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb reported this story from Ft. Benning, Georgia. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Oliver Mann further adapted it as a CLIP ESSAY Prompt.
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Writing Directions: Read the passage above and write an essay about it. In your own words,
summarize (or explain) what the passage says. Then develop your essay by relating the topic to
your own life, to something you have read, and/or what you have learned in school. Only a small part of your essay should be a summary, but make sure to explain the passage so that it is clear to someone who has not read it. Most of the essay should be about how the topic is related to situations you know about.
Remember to review your essay and make any changes or corrections that will help your
reader follow your thinking. You will have 90 minutes to complete your essay.