Mother of 2 Becomes Only Third Woman to Graduate From Army Ranger School

— -- Maj. Lisa Jaster, a 37-year-old mother of two, has become the third woman to successfully complete the elite Army Ranger School and will be among the 88 soldiers to earn the Ranger tab at a graduation ceremony on Friday at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Bob Purtiman, a spokesman for Fort Benning, where the training is held, confirmed the accomplishment to ABC News.

In her civilian life, the reservist works as an engineer with Shell Oil in Houston. Her two children are aged 7 and 3.

Jaster joins her fellow West Point graduates Capt. Kristen Griest, 26, and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, 25, two active duty soldiers who graduated from an earlier session of Ranger School on Aug. 21.

The three were among 19 women that began the course in April as part of what was supposed to be a one-time opportunity for women to participate in the Army’s research about how women would be integrated into all combat units.

Army Ranger School is a 62-day course that pushes candidates to their mental and physical limits. Officers and enlisted soldiers strive to earn the Ranger tab, which is the first step in qualifying to serve in the Army's elite special operations unite, the 75th Ranger Regiment.

"Ranger School is the Army’s premier combat leadership course, teaching Ranger students how to overcome fatigue, hunger, and stress to lead Soldiers during small unit combat operations," read a statement from the military announcing Griest and Haver's successful completion of the course.

The course "pushes Ranger students to their mental and physical limits by forcing them to operate on minimal food and sleep," said the statement.

Griest’s and Haver’s graduation, Army Secretary John McHugh announced that Army Ranger School would be open to candidates of all genders.

The four military services and U.S. Special Operations Command have provided the Joint Staff with their recommendations as to which combat jobs should remain off-limits to women.

Defense officials said that only the Marine Corps made a recommendation to continue to exclude women from combat infantry jobs.

The recommendations are currently being reviewed by the Joint Staff and will be forwarded to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter who has until the end of the year to decide whether to agree to the exclusions or open up all combat jobs to women.