Posted on 04/04/2010 9:45:22 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
On the surface, the Navy's leadership has sounded exuberant in speaking publicly about its recent decision to begin deploying female sailors in the cramped confines of combat submarines by next year.
But behind the scenes, the prospect of coed submarines is presenting medical and ship-construction challenges.
A specialist on undersea medicine is warning Congress that the air inside a submarine can be hazardous to fetal development.
"Atmosphere controls are different between ships and a submarine's sealed environment," retired Rear Adm. Hugh Scott, a former undersea medical officer, told The Washington Times. "There are all types of organic traces that off-gas into the air that have to be removed by mechanical means. You just can't open a window and let them out."
Adm. Scott said the Office of Naval Research contacted him about serving on a panel to study women and submarine issues, but he never heard back. A spokesman for the office said he had no immediate information on any submarine study.
The Navy is following the template it is using to allow gays in the military. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates voiced support for removing the ban on gays, then ordered a study to determine the impact on combat readiness and military families.
During congressional testimony this year, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, enthusiastically endorsed placing Navy women in subs.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Easy solution. The boomers must surface every 72 hours to accomodate potential pregancies.
What, that might impact military preparedness and deterence? Who cares? This is about EQUALITY! After all, what’s more important, PC or mere military concerns? Our so-called “enemies” will understand! (Better than we want, in fact.)
Not sure that women on subs is dumb, BUT, a pregnant woman on a sub, yeah, that sounds dumb. jmo
The thing that comes to my mind is will there be a professional gynecologist on board the sub, too? If a woman gets pregnant while on a six month cruise she either going to need an OB/GYN or they will have to drop her off at the nearest port.
Which do you think will happen?
At that level they are more politicians than military officers when working with Congress. Say the right thing and you get promoted. Say the wrong thing and your career of pet project goes in the dumps. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party is in control so women on subs is a great idea.
Morale is going to go waaaayyyy down once the PMS starts flying and the word will get out to the men not to sign up for any sub service.
Or, the sub has to now carry evacuation pods.
If they are on the pill there won’t be any PMS (or accidental pregnancies) but requiring that is a whole nother ball of wax.
The military has no problem requiring troops to take medications, preventatives, and whatnot for other reasons, and this seems like a reasonable precaution. Any women who don't want that type of contraception will be assigned to non-sub duties.
The likelihood of accidental pregnancy is thus reduced to a level that puts it below a lot of other possible problems. This seems pretty straightforward.
Putting women on subs is dumb for a lot of reasons, but pregnancy doesn't have to be one of the main ones.
I have heard that the menstrual cycle of women who live in close confines tend to synchronize. Can you imagine the joy of being confined inside a submerged submarine with 20 odd women who are all having PMS at the same time?
see my post just below yours. There's plenty of precedent for the military requiring troops to take preventative medications and substances for avoiding trouble that could compromise safety, health, or the mission. Contraceptives are no different.
Or a week later, when they're all on the rag at once? Good lord, the stink of the place will out-do anything the guys could cook up, including all farting at once!
Maybe the solution is to only allow women that are sufficiently non-feminine, or hyper-athletic, whose menstrual cycles have stopped.
Heh-heh! Where do you think thses "desk driving idiots" come from?
I believe power from the engine is used to desalinate seawater for drinking and cooking. Estrogens wouldn’t be the only problem here; antibiotics would be too.
There have been studies on this situation. no one knows why it happens...
Creeping crude?
She sued after she fatally crashed nine times? Wow! The Navy Medical Corps must be outstanding.
>>the whole idea is nuts unless the whole team is female. and then send them out when they are all PMS ing<<
That would be the most vicious weapon of any military force of any country ever!
“Ma’am, they are waving the white flag...”
“They’re MEN!! RIDDLE THAT FLAG WITH THE .50 CAL, THEN SINK THEIR ASSES, THEN SINK THE PARTS THAT FLOAT!!!!””
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