Army Capt. Aston Armstrong sheds tears of joy after learning that both she and her friend, Capt. Stephanie Godman, made the cut at the conclusion of the grueling sapper training. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Army Capt. Aston Armstrong sheds tears of joy after learning that both she and her friend, Capt. Stephanie Godman, made the cut at the conclusion of the grueling sapper training. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Army Capts. Aston Armstrong (left) and Stephanie Godman hug, cry and laugh after they made the cut at the conclusion of the grueling Sapper Leader Course. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Army Capt. Stephanie Godman is silhouetted by a star-filled night sky after taking part in a night ambush exercise. Women have been allowed to go to the Army's sapper school since 1999. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Army Capt. Stephanie Godman rappels down the side of a cliff during sapper training. A rope fastened by an instructor to a tree atop the cliff and a harness hold her. A cadre of instructors accompany the trainees and evaluate them. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Sapper candidate and Army Captain Aston Armstrong gets a hug from Army Captain John Todd, a fellow Sapper who also passed as her friend, Sapper candidate and Army Captain Stephanie Godman (left) also celebrates their success as they hug, cry and laugh after learning they both made the cut at the conclusion of the grueling of Sapper School training course at U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) and Fort Leonard Wood in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Sapper candidate and Army Captain Stephanie Godman gets instructions as she prepares to take a position along the perimeter during another day of Sapper School training at U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) and Fort Leonard Wood in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Sapper candidate and Army Captain Stephanie Godman (left) confers with her "Battle Buddy" Sapper candidate and National Guard Staff Sargent Anthony Hughes, as they plan for a mission during another day of Sapper School training at U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) and Fort Leonard Wood in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Tuesday, June 26, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Sapper candidate and Army Captain Stephanie Godman (right) and the rest of the platoon board a waiting truck to be transported to a site for the next mission during another day of Sapper School training at U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) and Fort Leonard Wood in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Monday, June 25, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
