Exclusive: Navy to Lift Ban on Women Serving Aboard Submarines

ABC News ^ | February 23, 2010 | DAVID KERLEY and LUIS MARTINEZ

[SloopJohnB]

Women are a big step closer to serving on U.S. Navy submarines. ABC News has learned that the Navy has decided to lift the ban on female submarine crew members. Subs are one of the last places in the military from which women are excluded.

[steve86]

The wiser male members of the crew should refuse to board the boat, en masse. The less wise should also, even if they don't understand how really bad an idea this is. There are other jobs available for Navy women where these issues don't arise.

[Jewbacca]

“I cannot think of one instance where having women in the military has enhanced our capabilities.”

Ludmilla Pavlichenko

Heck, even Dr. Ruth.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/doctor/drruth.asp

[LibLieSlayer]

There will be fights and lots of submariner babies.

LLS

[swarthyguy]

>our ability to wage war?

We’re never gonna use them anyway, so why not try something new.

Now the officers will have to be relationship counselors and therapists like their surface counterparts.

Just saw the 6 hour German TV version of Das Boot on Comcast ondemand. I know the USN is far more considerate of creature comforts and there’s more space, but women in those quarters will be the stuff of legendary Naval scuttlebutt on land!

[ColdWater]

I know the USN is far more considerate of creature comforts and there’s more space, but women in those quarters will be the stuff of legendary Naval scuttlebutt on land!

I was on an old 637 class which is cramped by today's standards but it was a mansion compared to the old WWII boats.

[MinorityRepublican]

What the frack happened to this country. As recently as 10 years ago, this proposal was considered unthinkable!

[Jeff Gordon]

This article does not square with this other April, 2008 article in the New York Times.

US Navy Mans Two Nuclear Subs with Women

"with the backing of outgoing President George Bush, the Navy plans to get women into submarines and avoid mixing with seamen by making two US Virginia class subs consist of all-female crew and officers.

One of the first female Prospective Commanding Officers for submarines, Commander Sarah Bentworth, is eager to get started. She spend two tours aboard the USS Virginia in order to prepare for her first sub command. The Navy spokesman says the plan should be implemented by Dec 2009."

[AngryJawa]

Navy to Lift Ban on Women Serving Aboard Submarines

Yeah, this'll end well.

Carry on.

[swarthyguy]

Had to go look.

[ken5050]

Possibly now the Navy will revisit the naming of its subs, and choose to honor some of the great fleet boats of WW II..there's the Wahoo!, Barracuda, Bonefish, Plunger, Pompon, and of course Bang to choose from..

[Altura Ct.]

Women on subs, gays serving openly. Our military has become one great big social experiment.

This should all end well...

[SoldierDad]

Obviously yet another attempt by the Obozo Admin to further weaken the U.S. Military.

[MrDem]

ong patrols with sexual tension........?

I would not last 10 minutes, having to squeeze through a narrow passage way several times a day, against a "voluptuous" fellow seaman. :)

[ozarkgirl]

I agree as well, at least not for combat positions or where there is a good chance for combat.

I don’t think they’re supposed to “fraternize” but what is expected out of a bunch of 20 and 30 year olds who don’t know if they’re going to live to see tomorrow. It’s not good for marriages either. Wife half a world away, hormones raging. Not good.

[Obadiah]

What happened? Hollywood, University Professors, Liberals, the corrupt MSM, Obama...that's what happened.

The sixties radical now have the con.

[Rebelbase]

I’d think they get liberty every once in a while to blow off some, er..steam.

[truthguy]

The madness in the military goes on. It's not bad enough that women serving on surface ships have been an utter failure, now the Navy has extended it to Submarines. I didn't serve in the Navy but I have friends and family members who did and to a man those who have witnesses this idiocy (their words) have complained about it. Nothing succeeds like failure.

[from occupied ga]

accommodations for women such as separate toilets and showers.

Most nuclear plants have unisex facilities for the refueling and outage crews. Never heard of any problems arising even though they work long and hard.

[SloopJohnB]

Navy source leaked their plan. It is code named:

OPERATION PETTICOAT

Fleet being readied for female crewmembers with Poodle-class submarines:

Rumor has it a new rating will be forthcoming:

Interior DecoratorationMate

[VeniVidiVici]

Woo Hoo!!