Women Marines get second shot at grueling combat test

WASHINGTON -- Fifteen women have tried and failed the Marine Infantry Officer Course, 14 of them on the very first day -- a brutal combat endurance test that takes everyone to their limit. For 2nd Lt. Sage Santangelo, that day was in January.

"I got to a point where my body just physically couldn't perform anymore," she says. "It's a tough place to reach. My mind definitely wanted more, but, you know, physically, my body was done."

Twenty-five men and three other women also washed out that day, but Santangelo is not allowed to say exactly what did it.

"The course is purposely kept very secret to kind of create that uncertainty, to kind of mirror a combat environment," she says.

"If you look at a combat environment, you have to be able to carry your water, your ammo, your body armor, your chow, and that load can get pretty heavy very quickly," Santangelo says.

Unlike men, who can retake the course, women were not allowed a second chance.

"If I were to take that test again, I would have a much better chance, because I would have -- that uncertainty piece wouldn't be there," she says.

"I'm very humbled that he would consider my opinions and my thoughts," Santangelo says. "I'm hopeful that it will help others, and I'm glad to see that he's doing that."

Santangelo is not going to try again. She's headed to Afghanistan instead. But from now on, women Marines will have a better chance of making it through the Infantry Officer Course -- if not on the first try, then on the second.