
Obviously, placing women in submarines is controversial and the questions touched on those issues but the admiral addressed each one fairly and explained the needs of the Navy were driving the requirement. According to the admiral, the number of males receiving technical degrees in the US continues to drop and is now at 25% of college graduates which limits the number of eligible candidates for this career field. In the last five years, the Navy has not met its accession goals for submarine officers twice! He said the leadership of the Navy’s submarine force was driving this effort as they looked to the future. Bottom line: No agenda was driving this effort and it was totally a combat capability need being met.

Bruner said the plan does not include enlisted sailors at this time but studies are being conducted on cost of modifications for possible placement. The plan must be treat everyone equally and do the right thing with tax money for modifications of the submarines. The women officers in training will arrive on board in late 2011 or early 2012. When training is finished, the plan is to place a senior supply officer and two ensign junior officers together on each selected submarine. They are 36 crews on 18 submarines that could be part of the program as it currently is envisioned. The admiral did spend two tours of two weeks each on board mixed gender submarines in the Australian Navy and felt there were no issues. In fact, when he left, the biggest take away from the experience he had was “no big deal”.
In response to mili

For additional information please go to Navy to Start Training Female Submarines in July.
If you would like to read a transcript or listen to a tape of the Roundtable please go to DoDLive!
Best wishes to the first class of female submarine dolphin wearers! Be sure to add your comments but remember this is a military family blog and we do want you to express your feelings but keep "trash talk" for the courts, fields, etc.!
Photo Credit: 100309-N-0780F-023 SOUDA BAY, Greece (March 9, 2010) The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) arrives for a routine port visit to the island of Crete. Florida is homeport in Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley/Released)
Photo Credit: 100428-N-1831S-054 KINGS BAY, Ga. (April 28, 2010) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska (SSBN 732) has set aside living quarters for female officers in preparation to be one of the first submarines to have an integrated crew. The Navy announced April 29 a new policy to station women on submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ash Severe/Released)
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Barry Bruner, Commander of Submarine Group Ten DoDLive
This is a tough call
ReplyDeleteBRAVO ZULU. Just found your blog via Goggle daily submarine alerts.
ReplyDeleteYou did an excellent job with women submariners story.
Nancy "Subsister"
Acknowledged SUBFOR family.
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Have bookmarked your blog.