The following originally appeared as an online exclusive in the W&M Alumni Magazine. – Ed.

During the Siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War, students and faculty from William & Mary stood alongside the Continental Army, fighting for the nation’s independence. W&M’s military legacy includes figures such as Gen. George Washington, W&M’s 14th chancellor; Robert Gates ’65, L.H.D. ’98, the only secretary of defense to serve under presidents from both major political parties; and hundreds of other alumni who have served or currently serve.  

Today, this legacy continues with alumnae like Lt. Col. Jennifer Purser ’08, 1st Lt. Erin O’Hara ’21 and 1st Lt. Mackenzie Corcoran ’21, who are forging new paths and redefining what is possible. They are some of the first women to graduate from the toughest school the Army has to offer: Ranger School.

Established in 1950 in the in the rugged terrain of Fort Moore, Georgia, Ranger School is the Army’s premier leadership school. It covers at least 62 days and consists of the Darby, Mountain and Swamp phases. During these three phases, ranger candidates are pushed to their physical, mental and emotional limits. They must endure little food and a lack of sleep while working to accomplish tactical missions in the toughest conditions. Ranger candidates must meet rigorous standards, including completing a 12-mile march with a 47-pound pack, navigating a mile-long obstacle course over hilly terrain, and rappelling down a 200-foot rock face at night — all while excelling in cadre and peer evaluations. Those who graduate receive the coveted Ranger Tab to wear on the left shoulder of their military uniform.

For decades, Ranger School’s grueling challenges were closed to women. In April 2015, the Army launched a pilot program, and the first women graduated in August 2015. In April 2022, Purser became the 101st woman to graduate from Ranger School. Corcoran is the only woman to graduate from not only Ranger School but also the Army’s intensive Sapper School and Jungle Warfare School. Alongside O’Hara, they are proving courage, resilience and skills learned at William & Mary can conquer the toughest challenges.

Lt. Col. Jennifer Purser ’08

During her college years, Purser was a part of the Revolutionary Guard Battalion (RGB), W&M’s ROTC unit and a descendant of the William & Mary company that fought at Yorktown. She participated in Ranger Challenge, ROTC’s varsity sport. She also played on the women’s Division I soccer team, majored in international relations and learned Mandarin.

Before she attended Ranger School, then-Maj. Purser was serving in a senior leadership position in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. She was ecstatic for the opportunity to attend.

“It is very rare for anyone above the rank of captain to attend Ranger School,” she says. “However, my brigade leadership was incredibly supportive and championed my attendance at the school. I don’t know what surprised me more: the fact that I graduated Ranger School, or that I was given the opportunity to attend in the first place!”

Purser credits her W&M experience with helping her accomplish her goal and inspiring others to do so as well. “There is no ‘easy’ route to graduation at W&M,’ she says. “Similar to a degree from William & Mary, the Ranger tab sets one apart from his or her peers because [they have] proven his or her physical, mental, emotional and spiritual grit.” And today, she continues to set herself apart. She is currently preparing to take on Battalion command and will be the first woman Ranger to do so.

1st Lt. Erin O’Hara ’21

Following Purser’s historic achievement, O’Hara braved the bitter winter of 2023 to earn her Ranger Tab. What kept her going through grueling days and sleepless nights was a simple, yet profound motivation: “wanting to keep [her] soldiers alive.”

Her path to Ranger School started much earlier. She was also a member of the RGB and an international relations major. During the RGB’s Spring Field Training Exercise her freshman year, she was installed as a squad leader after an upperclassman was fired from the job. She led her squad of 10 cadets successfully through the tactical mission. The cadre evaluating her declared “O’Hara, you’re going to go to Ranger School.”

O’Hara feels her time at W&M was critical to preparing her. “W&M is a college full of leaders,” she says. “I learned a lot about being a good follower.”

She also participated in the RGB Ranger Challenge team for three years and credits it for showing her what a good team looks like. Her studies also developed her as a leader and gave her the common sense needed to excel at the school. “My international relations professors pushed us to be realistic, asking, ‘Would you do that in real life?’”

1st Lt. Mackenzie Corcoran ’21

One mark of a leader is the example they set and inspiration they provide. Corcoran, O’Hara’s RGB classmate and friend, saw what O’Hara accomplished and she wanted to do the same thing.

“Why not Ranger School? I’m always asking myself, ‘What’s the next thing?’” she says.

As a chemistry major, joining the Army wasn’t originally in her plans. After her grandfather and father had both become colonels, Corcoran didn’t want to join the family business. “I hated the Army,” she says, but her mother thought that she was tailor-made for the Army life and encouraged her to join. Years later, after becoming a four-year ROTC cadet and senior captain of the Ranger Challenge team at W&M, Corcoran commissioned into the Army. She honed the skills and determination that propelled her to graduate from not only Ranger School but also Sapper School and Jungle Warfare School — becoming the first woman to achieve this trifecta.

Supporting each other

Fate brought these trailblazing women together in Hawaii, where they’ve forged bonds as leaders and W&M alumnae. When O’Hara reached out to Purser after her Ranger School graduation, a shared mission to mentor and inspire others was born, leading them to host a leader development seminar through the Army this winter. In addition, all three enjoyed a Hawaii Yule Log celebration with other W&M alumni this holiday season.

As they continue their military careers, these alumnae aim to inspire the next generation of leaders. Just like other W&M alums, Gen. Winfield Scott, the longest-serving general in U.S. military history and Gen. David McKiernan ’72, D.P.S. ’04, commander of allied forces during the 2003 Iraq invasion, these women have made their mark on military history. Their example will continue motivate people for years to come.

“I’m confident W&M can continue to lead the way in producing future rangers, regardless of gender,” says Purser. “Ranger School’s mission is to develop leaders. W&M and the RGB have always produced sound Army leaders, honing the skills of our nation’s best to effectively lead future generations.”

Thornton Ray ’13 participated in ROTC at William & Mary before serving in the U.S. Army as a hospital administrator. He participates in the Association of 1775, the W&M Alumni Association’s network for military/veteran and federal government alumni.