In a statement to Marine Corps Times on Tuesday, an official confirmed that the second of the female Lieutenants was pulled from the program last week because of unspecified medical problems.

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Both authors were retired Marine officers, but the vision of future amphibious operations they espoused was unlike anything the Marine Corps has practiced in recent times.

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The 7, 200-strong Royal Marine Corps has deployed units there 12 times.

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As a result (and because of the fact that the Marine Corps has come close to being disbanded several times), Marines are a proud species.

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