First Female Competitor Joins Best Ranger Competition 2025

For the first time in history, a female soldier, First Lt. Gabrielle White, competed in the annual Best Ranger Competition, finishing 14th overall with her teammate, Capt. Seth Deltenre. The competition, held over three days at Fort Benning, Georgia, featured 52 teams, all composed of Army Rangers, with only 16 making it to the final events. White's participation marks a significant milestone, as women were only allowed to become Army Rangers starting in 2015, when the Ranger school was opened to them. The competition included rigorous events testing the soldiers' endurance, skill, and mental resilience, with participants covering over 60 miles with minimal rest. Despite this historic achievement, the Army has faced criticism for downplaying diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, with recent policy changes under the Trump administration limiting the recognition of such milestones. White, a Black infantry officer, is currently assigned to the maneuver captains career course at Fort Benning.