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JCF Chief: It's Time Women Served On Subs
Military.com ^ | 09/24/2009 | Tom Philpott

Posted on 09/24/2009 4:37:19 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld

Women should be allowed to serve aboard America's fleet of nuclear submarines, the nation's top military officer, Adm. Michael Mullen, quietly has told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

If the Navy agrees to it, this would be a huge policy change and potentially a significant expansion of career opportunities for female officers and sailors.

Women have been barred by Navy policy from submarines, even as the sea service began 15 years ago to integrate females into other seagoing combat roles including aboard surface warships and in fighter jets.

Mullen, former chief of naval operations and a career surface warfare officer, made his position on submarines known in written responses to questions from the committee to prepare for Mullen's confirmation hearing to serve a second two-year term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

"As an advocate for improving the diversity of our force, I believe we should continue to broaden opportunities for women. One policy I would like to see changed is the one barring their service aboard submarines," Mullen told senators.

Opponents of lifting the ban have argued for decades that space is at a premium on submarines. To accommodate privacy needs of females, including separate berthing and "heads" or toilet/shower facilities, would be "prohibitively expensive," Navy has argued. Watch duty, bunk management, extra supplies and incidents of fraternization and harassment would complicate submarine life, according to one study done for the Navy in 1994.

No senator actually raised the female submariner issue with Mullen during his Sept. 15 confirmation hearing. The focus was Afghanistan and Iraq. And Navy officials had no immediate comment on Mullen's position.

(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: departmentofdefense; dod; jcf; jcs; jointchiefofstaff; michaelmullen; military; militarywomen; mullen; pentagon; socialengineering; submarines; usmilitary; usnavy; ussubmarines
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To: Carley
They even have naval uniforms for pregnant sailors

I did not know that
41 posted on 09/24/2009 5:16:10 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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To: A.A. Cunningham
Loose lips sink ships.

Periscope UP!

Fire torpedo Tube One. "Ohhh!"

"She's going down!"

I wonder what Admiral Rickover would've thought of this...?

Cheers!

42 posted on 09/24/2009 5:17:05 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: NotSoModerate
. . . where boobs won’t fit.

I can think of some female candidates who qualify in that respect.

43 posted on 09/24/2009 5:20:20 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: DoughtyOne

Yes, way too close and cramped for that to work out well. The sub is likely to come back from a cruise with more people than it launched with.

I could see a ladies’ submarine, but not coed.


44 posted on 09/24/2009 5:21:59 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (The Democrat party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: Fester Chugabrew

Contour bunks.


45 posted on 09/24/2009 5:23:28 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (The Democrat party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: grey_whiskers

Oh you’re on a roll...


46 posted on 09/24/2009 5:23:55 PM PDT by farlander (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: farlander
Oh you’re on a roll...

Not me, NOT ME!!!!

Cheers!

47 posted on 09/24/2009 5:25:49 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Fester Chugabrew
I can think of some female candidates who qualify in that respect.

LOLOL!!! Imagine the jokes....

48 posted on 09/24/2009 5:26:42 PM PDT by NotSoModerate (Obama administration: Psycho Justice Crusaders)
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To: TruthBeforeAll
There would be fights, and moral would plummet.

Morale, too.

49 posted on 09/24/2009 5:27:36 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: humblegunner

and dont forget morals.....


50 posted on 09/24/2009 5:31:59 PM PDT by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Melchior

If you put women prostitutes on subs then you would have the same nut jobs demanding that homosexals be quartered on submarines. I know things have changed, but when I was in the Navy (Korean conflict)there was a problem with space on ships.

The smaller the ship, the more cramped the quarters. Submarines were probably the worst in that regard. I know that there are bigger subs now, but space is still a problem. There is a fair number of pregnancies that have resulted from women being on sea duty. Forget the P.C. garbage. It weakens our miltary.


51 posted on 09/24/2009 5:38:54 PM PDT by SkipW
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To: A.A. Cunningham

Think pheromones in a confined space. Remember the air is recirculated and treated, not refreshed.
And how do you train a female crew with out them going out to sea with experienced males to teach them?
wont happen


52 posted on 09/24/2009 5:42:13 PM PDT by bullfeather (sub pusher)
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To: farlander

Homosexuals are allowed on subs so now it is time for hetrosexuals to get an eyeful...or whatever.


53 posted on 09/24/2009 5:42:13 PM PDT by Your6
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To: sonofstrangelove

This dumb son of a bitch was once the CNO. God help our Navy.


54 posted on 09/24/2009 5:48:23 PM PDT by em2vn
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To: em2vn

It’s kinda going to be a mute point, because Obama is trying to scrap our nucs and reduce the navy even further..while promising a seabased missile defense.
Liar Liar bras on fire.


55 posted on 09/24/2009 5:52:52 PM PDT by Oldexpat
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To: submarinerswife; brwnsuga; navynucmom; RainMan; US Navy Vet; Shimmer1

Navy family ping


56 posted on 09/24/2009 5:53:40 PM PDT by Shimmer1 (Navy Mom)
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To: sonofstrangelove

Seaman Alert!!!!


57 posted on 09/24/2009 6:04:08 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (ImpeachZero)
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To: sonofstrangelove

So much for the Silent Service; “Oooh, ah, ah, ah, ooh, ooh, yes, YES!”


58 posted on 09/24/2009 6:27:21 PM PDT by Jack Hammer (w)
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To: Shimmer1

No thanks. They would all be on their cycle at the same time and none of the men would survive.


59 posted on 09/24/2009 7:03:38 PM PDT by brwnsuga (Not a Slave!)
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To: Your6

Not my 6...

I have a feeling your stay will be short here...


60 posted on 09/24/2009 11:22:10 PM PDT by DBeers ( †)
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