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 ...
Periscope UP!
Fire torpedo Tube One. "Ohhh!"
"She's going down!"
I wonder what Admiral Rickover would've thought of this...?
Cheers!
I can think of some female candidates who qualify in that respect.
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.
Contour bunks.
Oh you’re on a roll...
Not me, NOT ME!!!!
Cheers!
LOLOL!!! Imagine the jokes....
Morale, too.
and dont forget morals.....
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.
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
Homosexuals are allowed on subs so now it is time for hetrosexuals to get an eyeful...or whatever.
This dumb son of a bitch was once the CNO. God help our Navy.
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.
Navy family ping
Seaman Alert!!!!
So much for the Silent Service; “Oooh, ah, ah, ah, ooh, ooh, yes, YES!”
No thanks. They would all be on their cycle at the same time and none of the men would survive.
Not my 6...
I have a feeling your stay will be short here...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.