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Pentagon ends ban of women on submarines
The Pentagon is moving to lift a century-old policy that prohibits women from serving aboard U.S. Navy submarines, several news outlets are reporting.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates notified Congress in a letter Friday of his intent to repeal the ban, which has been in place as long as the Navy has had submarines. The plan will phase in women's service, beginning with officers aboard larger submarines -- presumably the Ohio class -- that are easier to retrofit for coed quarters, the Associated Press is reporting.
Women began serving on Navy surface ships in 1993, but have remained barred from subs because of concerns that the close quarters would make it difficult for men and women to serve together.
Congress has 30 working days to object to the plan.
Both Chief Naval Officer Gary Roughead and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus have voiced support for allowing women to serve on submarines. Mabus told the Daily Press last year that Navy submarines would not require significant design changes to accommodate women sailors.
"There are a couple of issues to take into account, but (Roughead) and I have been working on this and think that women ought to have full career choices for a range of careers in the Navy and that includes serving on submarines," Mabus told the Daily Press in September.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation's top military officer, started the conversation when he told congressional lawmakers in September that he thought it was time to end the ban.
"I believe we should continue to broaden opportunities for women," Mullen wrote in response to written questions posed by the Senate Armed Services Committee. "One policy I would like to see changed is the one barring their service aboard submarines."
Women comprise about 15 percent of the Navy's officers and enlisted sailors. Since 1993, women have been assigned to surface warships, including destroyers and carriers, but they've never been able to serve aboard the Navy's 71 in-service submarines.
While all Navy ships' accommodations are notoriously cramped, submariners have perhaps the most restrictive quarters. In some cases, sailors take turns sleeping in the same bunks on attack submarines, a process called "hot-racking."
"All other ships have women sailors on board, and they're all doing great," Mabus said.
Pentagon ends ban of women on submarines - dailypress.com
The Pentagon is moving to lift a century-old policy that prohibits women from serving aboard U.S. Navy submarines, several news outlets are reporting.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates notified Congress in a letter Friday of his intent to repeal the ban, which has been in place as long as the Navy has had submarines. The plan will phase in women's service, beginning with officers aboard larger submarines -- presumably the Ohio class -- that are easier to retrofit for coed quarters, the Associated Press is reporting.
Women began serving on Navy surface ships in 1993, but have remained barred from subs because of concerns that the close quarters would make it difficult for men and women to serve together.
Congress has 30 working days to object to the plan.
Both Chief Naval Officer Gary Roughead and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus have voiced support for allowing women to serve on submarines. Mabus told the Daily Press last year that Navy submarines would not require significant design changes to accommodate women sailors.
"There are a couple of issues to take into account, but (Roughead) and I have been working on this and think that women ought to have full career choices for a range of careers in the Navy and that includes serving on submarines," Mabus told the Daily Press in September.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation's top military officer, started the conversation when he told congressional lawmakers in September that he thought it was time to end the ban.
"I believe we should continue to broaden opportunities for women," Mullen wrote in response to written questions posed by the Senate Armed Services Committee. "One policy I would like to see changed is the one barring their service aboard submarines."
Women comprise about 15 percent of the Navy's officers and enlisted sailors. Since 1993, women have been assigned to surface warships, including destroyers and carriers, but they've never been able to serve aboard the Navy's 71 in-service submarines.
While all Navy ships' accommodations are notoriously cramped, submariners have perhaps the most restrictive quarters. In some cases, sailors take turns sleeping in the same bunks on attack submarines, a process called "hot-racking."
"All other ships have women sailors on board, and they're all doing great," Mabus said.
Pentagon ends ban of women on submarines - dailypress.com
