Farmer makes history as Ranger School graduate

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumna 2nd Lt. Hayley Farmer, '22, on April 7 became the first woman to graduate from Ranger School after commissioning as an officer from UNG.

Farmer's Ranger class started with 380 students, and 147 graduated, for an attrition rate of more than 60%. She will next go through Stryker training at Fort Benning before going to her first assignment in Germany.

It isn't the first history Farmer has made history, either. 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 earned a litany of 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.

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. 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.

Col. Bryan Kirk

UNG professor of military science

Farmer earned a degree in criminal justice and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. The Griffin, Georgia, native was Golf Company commander during her senior year.

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. Now, it's all unfolding.

"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."