FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Among the 19 Army officer candidates at a promotion ceremony for the NC National Guard, two were women.

• They are the first female commanders in the combat infantry and armor units for the National Guard
• Candidates go through 18 months of training at the North Carolina Military Academy
• The academy has promoted more than 1,700 officers in the state's Army National Guard

They became the first female commanders in the combat infantry and armor units for the National Guard.

One of those new officers explained how achieving this goal required sacrifice.

"My husband is also military. So, my kids are very resilient. That's probably the biggest sacrifice. [It's] time away from my family," said 2nd Lt. Ashley Hurd.

Officer candidates go through 18 months of training at the North Carolina Military Academy. Since 1958, the academy has promoted more than 1,700 officers in the state's Army National Guard.