QUANTICO, VA — Marine Corps officials confirmed Monday they were having a difficult time keeping up with the thousands of females applying to the Infantry Officer Course, with some speculating on possibly hiring additional staff to keep up.

"Ever since Panetta ended the ban on women in combat, they've been signing up like crazy," said Captain James Kirkpatrick, a spokesman for the Marine Corps. "It started with only a couple, but now it's just gone into the thousands."

Long before the camouflage ceiling was struck down by Panetta, the Marine Corps had been experimenting with its Infantry Officer Course, allowing female volunteers to try out the training.