First Women Complete Marine Infantry Training

First volunteers in study to prep women for serving as ground combat troops

Three women graduated from the Marines' enlisted infantry course on Thursday, the first females to complete the physically demanding course, the Marine Corps said.

The women volunteered to enter the course as part of a study that will help the Marines gather information as the military moves toward opening all "ground combat" jobs to women.

The three graduates were part of an original group of 15 who volunteered to join the two-month course in September at Camp Geiger, N.C. Those who didn't complete the course either had been injured or voluntarily left. Some of the injured could have an opportunity to join a follow-on class.