First Lt. Gabrielle White made history this past weekend as the first Ranger-qualified female to compete in the Army’s legendary Best Ranger Competition — and she didn’t just show up, she finished strong.
White and her teammate, Capt. Seth Deltenre, crossed the finish line in 14th place out of 52 teams after enduring three relentless days of physical and mental punishment designed to push the Army’s best to their limits.
Held annually at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Best Ranger Competition is a brutal gauntlet that tests everything from physical fitness to land navigation, weapons proficiency, helicopter operations, and over 60 miles of movement with little to no sleep. It’s a rite of passage for elite soldiers — and until now, no female had ever competed.
White, 25, is an infantry officer assigned to the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Benning. She graduated from West Point in 2021 and earned her Ranger Tab in April 2022. She is one of just 154 women to complete Ranger School since it was opened to female soldiers in 2015.
Her performance was no fluke. White and Deltenre outperformed dozens of all-male teams, including a pair from Army Special Operations Command, who placed 22nd.
Before the Army, White was a standout student-athlete at North Royalton High School in Cleveland, Ohio. A four-year letterwinner in basketball, she scored over 1,000 points, set multiple school records, earned All-State honorable mention, and was a National Honor Society member. She also served in several leadership roles, including class treasurer and Regimental Command Sergeant Major for her class at West Point — the highest-ranking cadet NCO role.
The winning team this year was 1st Lt. Griff Hokanson and 1st Lt. Kevin Moore, both from the 75th Ranger Regiment.
But make no mistake — White’s performance proves there’s real merit behind the Army’s decision to hold all soldiers to the same standard, regardless of gender. No separate scoring. No lowered bar. Just one standard — and she rose to meet it.
No shortcuts. No special treatment. Just a tab-wearing, ground-pounding infantry officer who showed up and gave the competition everything she had.
And that’s exactly what being Ranger-qualified is all about.
© 2025 The Salty Soldier All rights reserved.
The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of TheSaltySoldier.com
