Twenty Army Ranger teachers and students were hospitalized overnight after 44 of them were struck by lightning Wednesday while "conducting lightning protection protocols" near Elgin Air Force Base near Pensacola.
The lightning strike occurred at around 5 p.m. Wednesday, toward the end of the sixth day of a 10-day training program, according to a base commander.
Col. David Fivecoat, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade commander, said 31 students were back in training Thursday, with increased medical observation.
“Ranger students and instructors are tough,” Fivecoat said.
Two women were among the students this time; neither was injured in the lightning strike and both are expected to graduate next week, officials said.
Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army chief of staff, said the Army is likely to run another gender-integrated Ranger course in November and at that point will decide whether it will be permanently open to women.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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