Interest groups in Washington, D.C. are trying to pressure the U.S. military to lower combat standards for women after three recently failed to meet the physical requirements necessary to complete the infantry officer-training course (IOC) in the Marine Corps

Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense, lifted a ban in 2013, which now allows women the opportunity to participate in combat roles within the military. The pentagon put forth a January 2016 deadline that requires military branches to have implemented women in these roles, but Marines are having a tough time.

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According to reports, the first three women were able to complete the challenging Marines' Combat Endurance Test earlier this month.

Once this first hurdle was completed, they then needed to pass the remainder of infantry officer training as the next step in order to become infantry officers. However, they were unable to meet the physical requirements.

IOC training is a 13-week process full of "tactical movements" that are basically known as hikes. To pass the training, officers need to keep a pace of three miles per hour while carrying more than 100 pounds of gear. If someone falls behind by more than 100 meters on just two different occasions, they fail and are out of the course.

Now, the Pentagon and U.S. Military are receiving pressure from D.C-based groups including the Service Women's Action Network and activist retired Army Col. Ellen Haring to lower the combat standards for women in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Marines are known for being some of the most highly trained troops in the U.S. military specifically because of their high combat standards. 

TagsU.S. Marine Corps, Secretary of Defense, Combat Standards