Women on submarines: Is it time?
Friday, September 25, 2009
U.S. Navy photo by Ray Narimatsu
The long debate about whether women should be allowed to serve on U.S. Navy submarines resurfaced recently after comments from top Navy leaders.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee it's time to change the policy barring women from submarine duty.
In response, Navy Times solicited statements from Mullen's successor as Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughhead, and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Mabus expressed his support more strongly than Roughhead, but the CNO still said he was "very comfortable" addressing the policy.
The remarks set off a flurry of discussion about the logistics of such a change and some of the emotional issues involved.
Submarine blogger Bubblehead's post on the subject had 42 comments in just more than 12 hours. A thread on Rontini's Submarine Bulletin Boards also had lots of activity.
In the past, submarine wives have voiced strong opposition to allowing mixed-gender submarine crews.
What do you think now? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Update: See Kitsap Sun's story for more local reactions.
women on subs
Guest wrote:
I'm a submarine wife. Without a doubt, I prefer that women not be allowed to serve on subs with men. My husband prefers that, too. We both think the drama would fly off the charts, and the blame for that would lie on both sides. It's a much more constricted and intimate environment than the ships that already carry mixed crews. Instead, they should have subs with male crews and subs with female crews :) I bet the female ones would outperform the male ones, too. Frankly, we're both glad he won't be a part of this change, since he's getting out in a few years and will hopefully be done with sea duty in another 6 months.