A University of North Georgia alumna recently became the first woman commissioned as an officer from UNG to graduate from Ranger School.
2nd Lt. Hayley Farmer, class of 2022, graduated from Ranger School on April 7.
According to a press release from the university, Farmer’s class started with 380 students, and she was one of 147 to graduate.
This is not the first time Farmer has made history. In May 2022, she was the first woman to commission into the Army infantry branch as her first choice from UNG, and only the second woman overall to commission into the infantry from UNG.
"Ranger School is a physically and mentally grueling combat leadership course designed to push Ranger students to the limits of their endurance often under extreme and hazardous conditions approaching that of actual combat," Retired Lt. Col. Keith Antonia, UNG interim vice president for leadership and global engagement and a Ranger Hall of Fame member, said. "Despite a high attrition and recycle rate, Lt. Farmer made it straight through the 62-day course. That takes a lot of heart, guts, determination, and stamina."
Farmer was also awarded several honors during her time at UNG. She was a part of three top-four Ranger Challenge teams at the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, each of which won the ROTC title in the event at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Ranger Challenge is the varsity sport of Army ROTC, and teams compete against other colleges in events such as patrolling, marksmanship, weapons assembly, grenade assault course, Army Combat Fitness Test, land navigation, and road march. Farmer also earned the USAA Warrior Ethos Award for outstanding performance at Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the summer before her senior year, and after completing Advanced Camp, she helped mentor younger cadets at Basic Camp, also at Fort Knox.
"2nd Lt. Farmer's success at the U.S. Army's premier small-unit leadership school, Ranger School, is a testament to her determination and mental and physical strength, as well as her demonstrated capability and leadership," Col. Bryan Kirk, UNG professor of military science, said. "The Corps of Cadets and senior ROTC program at UNG set conditions for her to grow and succeed, but her personal grit and focus on excellence enabled her to achieve this milestone."
Retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets, recalled Farmer telling him her junior year she wanted to branch in the infantry and go to Ranger School. He noted that now, she’s reaching her goals.
"From the start, she was focused on succeeding and achieving something great here in the Corps of Cadets," Neikirk said. "She's a very smart young lady. She's physically fit. She has a great head on her shoulders. She has grit, and she knew she could do it. She's doing a great job for herself, her family and her school. She will be an outstanding leader for the U.S. Army."
Framer graduated from UNG with a degree in Criminal Justice. After graduating from Ranger School, she will next go through Stryker training at Fort Benning before going to her first assignment in Germany.
