As the daughter of an Airborne qualified Ranger I was suspect when two women graduated from Ranger training this past August. Shaye Haver and Kristen Griest raised eyebrows across the world when they graduated from the elite Army Ranger training school last month after passing four months of grueling tests. Now it turns out that I was right to cock an eyebrow and wonder if there had been some special consideration given to these ladies.

I have heard countless stories about the grueling Ranger training that my father lived through, but for those who are not familiar with the details let me enlighten you as to the physical trials of this particular career path.

“Ranger School consists of three phases: Benning, which lasts 21 days and includes water survival, land navigation, a 12-mile march, patrols, and an obstacle course; Mountain Phase, which lasts 20 days, and includes assaults, ambushes, mountaineering and patrols; and Swamp Phase, which lasts 17 days and covers waterborne operations. “

Left out of the description above are the 17 degree swamp water in Georgia, the venomous snakes and mosquitos. Oh, and the live chickens distributed to the soldiers as a meal-some of which survived to haunt my fathers training camp during his Ranger training experience.

So how did these women end up graduating? Were they just that tough? According to an article in the Daily Mail last night, People magazine received a tip that an unnamed General had proclaimed in January of 2015 that a woman would graduate from the Army’s most elite training this  year. According to sources at Fort Benning, the location of the Ranger training school, the General’s words had a “ripple effect” on the rank and file-as Generals words tend to.

Earlier this week People revealed that Representative Steve Russell (R-OK) had inquired with the Department of Defense (DOD) whether or not the documentation for the women who graduated from Ranger Training last month had received “special treatment”. Well People magazine found the following during their investigation into the story:

“Women were first sent to a special two-week training in January to get them ready for the school, which didn’t start until April 20. Once there they were allowed to repeat the program until they passed – while men were held to a strict pass/fail standard.

• Afterward they spent months in a special platoon at Fort Benning getting, among other things, nutritional counseling and full-time training with a Ranger.

• While in the special platoon they were taken out to the land navigation course – a very tough part of the course that is timed – on a regular basis. The men had to see it for the first time when they went to the school.

• Once in the school they were allowed to repeat key parts – like patrols – while special consideration was not given to the men.

• A two-star general made personal appearances to cheer them along during one of the most challenging parts of the school, multiple sources tell PEOPLE. “

I don’t know about you, but this smells to high heaven to me. As the daughter of one of these elite soldiers I can tell you that I cannot fathom going through one quarter of what the folks who drop out of this training every year go through. Even though, as a former colleague who knew my father was a Ranger, used to say being a Ranger kid I was “Half woman, half amazing”, I know my limits.

So why doesn’t the U.S. Army acknowledge the limits of women? Earlier this month a Marine Corps study came out showing that all male combat units out performed their mixed counterparts. It also showed that female Marines suffered more injuries than their male counterparts. The study involved 300 men and 100 women and cost the Marine Corps more than $36 million. The health effects were concerning as well. Women experienced more musculoskeletal injuries than men-more than double at 40.5% and females averaged 15% lower performance in anaerobic power than men.

And yet the Pentagon has imposed a deadline of January 1, 2016 for all services to integrate women into all roles unless they request a waiver by the end of this month.

As much as the feminists want us girls to stand up and cheer this move with hollers of “GIRL POWER!!” I have to say-leave the Rangers alone.