Army Ranger Gabrielle White Makes History, Finishes 14th in Grueling Military Event

For the first time in its 40-year history, a female Army Ranger has participated in the esteemed Best Ranger Competition, highlighting a notable milestone in the U.S. Army’s progressive journey towards inclusion—1st Lt. Gabrielle White, alongside Capt. Seth Deltenre achieved an impressive 14th place out of 52 teams.

The demanding three-day event, conducted yearly at Fort Benning, Georgia, challenges Ranger-qualified soldiers with more than 30 rigorous activities, such as helicopter missions, obstacle courses, land navigation, weapons qualification, and over 60 miles of movement with little rest.

White and Deltenre have been assigned to the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning. Only 16 teams completed the entire competition.

The victorious team—1st Lt. Griff Hokanson and 1st Lt. Kevin Moore, both from the 75th Ranger Regiment—outperformed their competitors with exceptional skill.

Until 2015, women were not allowed to attend Ranger School, as the Army officially opened combat roles to female soldiers that year. In August, two women achieved the milestone of being the first to graduate from Ranger School. Since then, an increasing number of women have achieved the prestigious Ranger tab, but White stands out as the first to compete in the Best Ranger Competition.

In contrast to previous years, the Army has refrained from issuing a press release to commemorate this significant milestone. Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, under the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon has prohibited official content that promotes diversity, equity, or inclusion. References to milestones achieved by women and minority service members have been removed from military websites and social media accounts.

Even without formal acknowledgment, White’s involvement signifies a pivotal moment for women in combat arms, showcasing that exceptional military performance transcends gender.