Shaye Haver and Kristen Griest who passed Ranger School 'were given extra training'

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Shaye Haver and Kristen Griest graduated from the course last month
Sources now allege they were given help not on offer to the men
Female candidates were reportedly given three months of extra coaching before the men started the same course
'Pressure was put on trainers' to make sure at least one woman graduated
The Army denies the existence of a special training unit that allowed the women to prepare for Fort Benning before the school started

Published: 20:16 EST, 25 September 2015 | Updated: 21:49 EST, 25 September 2015

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The first two women to graduate from Ranger School have had their elite status questioned amid claims that Army officials vowed to pass at least one of them before the course even started.

Back in January a general is claimed to have told his subordinates that 'a woman will graduate Ranger School' this year, as part of the first ever class to include serving female soldiers.

The general, who has not been named, reportedly added: 'At least one will get through', according to People.

In August, Capt Shaye Haver and First Lt Kristen Griest became the first two women to graduate from the school, having taken four months to pass all the tests.

Captain Shaye Haver (pictured) and First Lieutenant Kristen Griest became the first women to pass Ranger School, but that accolade has now been called into question

Multiple anonymous sources have reportedly come forward to claim that the female candidates for Ranger School, including 1st Lt Griest (pictured) were given extra training and lower standards

According to unnamed sources, quoted by People, the general's words had a 'ripple effect' through the ranks at Fort Benning, where part of the training takes place, leading to the women being given lenient treatment.

People's sources claim that shortly after the general's comments were made, the women were sent to a special training camp to prepare them for Ranger School along with some of the men.

The sources say that before Ranger School started, the women were given training for it

However, while the men were given a strict pass-no pass standard to meet, the sources claim that the women were allowed to attempt the course as many times as they liked.

Once that was completed, multiple sources say the female hopefuls were then taken to Fort Benning itself, where they spent several months being given intense preparation for the course.

This phase of training was open only to the women, the sources say, while the men were simply told to report to Ranger School when the training opening in April.

During this preparation period, it is claimed that the women were given nutritional advice, and coached on how to pass the school by star graduate Sergeant First Class Robert Hoffnagle.

Finally, the sources allege that the women were also given preferential treatment while taking part in the course itself.

According to People, less than three weeks into the course, all of the woman had either dropped out or were about to be sent home, which prompted Maj Gen. Scott Miller to travel to see them.

While the Major has acknowledged going to see the women in the past, it was never revealed what he had spoke to them about.

Sources claim his presence was actually designed to exert influence over their trainers.

The source said: 'No matter what the general intended to convey, the instructors had no choice but to take this to mean, "Play along." The instructors knew what they were expected to do. They did it.'

1st Lt. Shaye Haver conducting mountaineering training during the Ranger Course on Mount Yonah in Cleveland, Georgia, in July

U.S. Army Soldiers taking part in the tough Ranger Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, in April this year

Griest and Haver officially graduated from the school on August 21 alongside 98 male candidates, with Griest saying their success 'proves that women can take the same stresses as men'.

She also expressed hope that her achievement would help to convince Army bosses to allow women to finally take full combat roles in the military.

While Griest and Haver are allowed to wear the black and gold Ranger tab on their uniform, they have not been allowed to join the elite fighting Rangers unit itself.

According to People, spokesmen for Miller and the Army would not comment on allegations that women were allowed to repeat training while men were given pas-no pass criteria.

However, they did deny the existence of a special training unit that allowed the women to prepare for Fort Benning in the months before the school started.

They also denied that the women were offered any sort of concessions during Ranger School itself.

Miller said that his visit to Ranger School was to commemorate his 30th anniversary of attending the course, and denied his presence had any effect on the staff there.