Women to begin serving on U.S. submarines

CNN ^

[diogenes ghost]

It appears that y'all didn't bother to read the article...not that unusual around here.

There will be three female OFFICERS on each boat.

Very much different from having an enlisted mix. It eliminates a lot of the interaction that could cause trouble, and we all know that officers NEVER do the dirty on duty.

My son spent 14 years on boomers and still works for the Navy at Kings Bay. He doesn't like it, but agrees it probably won't result in mass pregnancies.

[John Leland 1789]

Three women will serve aboard each sub at any one time, two as submarine officers and one as a supply officer. The subs have crews of 154.

What percentage of the males on board are officers?

Two-thirds of the females on board will be officers?

[Iron Munro]

It just seems insane to ignore human nature and what takes place when healthy, normal males and females work together in such a close environment. Add to that the fact that most of them are young, virile and all are away from wives, hubbies, girlfriends, boyfreinds etc. for months at a time.

Just the presence of women will introduce stress and kindle feelings best held in submission until the boats and ships return to port.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Midshipmen Selected for Submarine Service
Story Number: NNS100510-07
5/10/2010

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53249

By Jessica Clark, U.S. Naval Academy Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- Eleven female midshipmen from the Naval Academy's Class of 2010 have been selected for submarine service upon graduation, following the Department of the Navy's announcement two weeks ago that female officers now have the option to serve on board subs.

"I heard about the opportunity to go on subs and thought wow, what a chance that would be to challenge myself and be able to do something different," said Midshipman 1st Class Rachel Lessard, of Newburyport, Mass.

All of the midshipmen had previously been assigned other warfare communities in preparation for graduation. Of the 11 selected, eight had already gone through the screening for service in the nuclear surface community. The other three had been selected for the conventional surface, Navy aviation and Marine Corps ground communities.

Many of the selected midshipmen first became interested in submarine warfare after spending 24 hours on board a submarine, something all midshipmen have the opportunity to experience as part of their summer training.

"I was really impressed by the enlisted crew. They all loved their jobs and wanted to teach you about them," said Midshipman 1st Class Laura Martindale, of Roselle, Ill. "It was a unique environment that we hadn't been exposed to before as women."

For Midshipman 1st Class Kayla Sax, of Richland, Wash., the Submarine force appealed to her because of the amount of responsibility assigned to junior officers.

"You jump in really quick and qualify to operate a nuclear reactor," said Sax. "And you're trying to qualify on all the watches at the same time that you're trying to lead your division."

Sax said the challenges inherent in the submarine community appealed to her for the same reason she was drawn to the Naval Academy. Midshipman 1st Class Jessica Wilcox agreed.

"It's a challenge, which is exciting, but I'm in it because of what it offers for your development as a leader and for you to help the Navy in the best way possible," said Wilcox, of Honesdale, Pa.

The midshipmen said they have received strong support, both from mentors in the submarine community and from their peers.

"I've gotten a lot of support from classmates through this entire process to help me get ready for my technical interview and talking to me about their experiences on their sub cruises during the summer," said Midshipman 1st Class Marquette Ried, of Fort Collins, Colo. "They're excited to have us going to [nuclear] power school with them and to have us on the boat with them."

Ultimately, these women are eager to serve and looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

"I'd like to serve however the Navy can best use me," said Midshipman 1st Class Elizabeth Hudson, of Plymouth, Mass. "If this is a skill set I can offer and I was selected, then outstanding."

100428-N-1831S-054 KINGS BAY, Ga. (April 28, 2010) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska (SSBN 732) has set aside living quarters for female officers in preparation to be one of the first submarines to have an integrated crew. The Navy announced April 29 a new policy to station women on submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ash Severe/Released)

[Last Dakotan]

This makes our Navy more lethal how?

[MSF BU]

You make a good point. Were these assignments based on merit or driven by quotas?

[Charles Martel]

Also when a section is flooding and power is out and you have to use raw strength to close a bulkhead door. Then whoops this female “crew-person” only has 40% of the strength of a male “crew-person” all that egalitarianism goes is useless once you slip past crush depth.

Similar concerns exist with regard to women serving aboard surface vessels - possibly leaning more in the direction of lesser firefighting capabilities. The DOD is willing to risk many lives on this politically-correct bullshit. You can bet that when a ship is eventually lost because of these vulnerabilities, the ensuing investigation and official report will never even hint that any of this is related to the incident.

[MSF BU]

No this lends nothing to lethality or the ability to fight and win wars, and that’s the point.

[Cindy]

What you’re saying is common sense and telling it to me is preaching to the choir.

As I said, America is in decline and that is unfortunate (understatement).

[HP8753]

Gays and women together. That could be a new sitcom.

CPO Snarky ;-)

[Cvengr]

The most incompetent and incredibly arrogant officers I’ve ever witnessed have been female field grade Naval officers, whom the command dare never criticize nor give a mediocre evaluation thereof, for it might not reflect well of her seniors. They have been not only promoted over their peers, but given more highly placed favorable authority over those over equal rank and considerably more wherewithal.

This means the US military will become even more incompetent in the next 15 yrs until this generation passes, assuming the next generation is more competent.

Meanwhile, those junior officers serving under female field grades, have to have been the least competent and less developed company officers I’ve ever observed. Even if they continued into another tour of duty, they would have damaged the command into which they fell.

May the families, states, and groupings of people whom have developed these female officers befall a cursing 40 times worse than the worst female officer ever commissioned, and the past female legislators from Colorado suffer cursings even 40 times greater.

[Delta Dawn]

Up periscope anyone?

[240B]

3 pallets of 5 gallon Navy gray paint have to be loaded onto a Destroyer.

The chief called for two boatswains to bring them onboard. They happen to be a guy and a girl. The guy walked out picked up one in each hand and carried them on board. I will never forget the sight of the female struggling with one can with both hands trying her best to drag it off the pallet and across the pier.

Bottom line, and this is a real story, the guy had to load all 3 pallets by himself. There was nothing he could do about it.

So there is a good example of a liberal thinking there is no difference between a man and a woman. It is only ‘fair’. But how did it work out to be ‘fair’ for the guy?

[dragnet2]

Another great government idea...Put them in Hooters outfits!

[ViLaLuz]

“The navy is trying to become all PC.”

It already has.

[bmwcyle]

Big mistake!

[stuartcr]

Those are green shirts on a carrier.

[Reily]

I agree

[Jeff Chandler]

Booty Duty

[SandRat]

Dumbest idea ever, brought on by PCism.