The first female Marine to pass the second phase of the intense selection process for Marine Corps special operators is leaving the service.

Sgt. Bailey Weis, an aviation maintenance controller with Marine Attack Squadron 542, completed the first two phases, which focus on the candidates’ physical and mental abilities, in the selection process on her first try. She was not chosen to continue to the nine-month individual training course.

After five years in the Marine Corps, she’s decided to leave to pursue a master’s degree in international relations.

“[Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command] would've been a nice option," Weis told Military.com. "But there are a lot of other opportunities out there."

Four other female Marines have tried to complete the program since the military lifted its ban on female service members serving in combat roles. One of those four made it through the first phase of the assessment and selection course, but did not have the minimum scores needed to advance.

Weis is not allowed to go through the process again because it would give her an advantage over other Marines.

"They have a lot of different ways that they analyze everyone and are extremely professional and on-point with everything they're doing," she said. "It sucks, but you've got to handle it the right way."