A woman has made it through the Navy SEAL officer assessment and selection for the first time.
The unidentified woman completed the screening earlier this year, according to Military.com. The news was disclosed this month at a meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.
Despite women being permitted to be considered for SEAL openings since 2016, no woman has made it through the grueling selection process.
Candidates for Navy SEAL officer assessment and selection are chosen from Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, Officer Candidate School, and service academies.
And even after making it through the two-week selection this year, the woman was not chosen for a SEAL contract as she had not selected the SEALs as her top choice of career path.
“We do not discuss details of a candidate’s nonselection, so it does not interfere with their successful service in other warfighter communities,” said Capt. Tamara Lawrence, a spokeswoman for Naval Special Warfare.
Lawrence said that selection is based on performance during the process.
“Selection is based on the candidate’s scores during the two-week SOAS assessment,” she said. “This process ensures every candidate has a fair and equal chance based on Naval Special Warfare standards.”
According to Lt. Grace Olechowski, force integration officer with Naval Special Warfare Command, five women have been invited to the officer assessment and selection since 2016, three have attempted it, and only one has finished.
About 180 people every year are picked to attend the SEAL officer assessment and selection.
