Top military officials in Washington have told naval commanders to prepare the nation’s submarine fleet for female crew members, ending a gender barrier that has lasted since the beginning of undersea warfare by the United States. Both Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have said they favor lifting the ban on women submariners, setting in motion changes that could produce mixed-sex crews on nuclear submarines within two years.

 

Experts believe the first women will be assigned to the large, ballistic missile submarines because they have more space for naval technicians to make changes to accommodate female members. Navy officials believe that 20% of the members of a submarine crew would have to be female to avoid the women feeling isolated. But even if technical obstacles are lifted, cultural resistance to female integration may continue, with some arguing the long missions and close quarters will make it difficult for men and women to properly work together.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Navy Set to Crew Subs with Female Sailors (by Christian Lowe, Military.com)
JCS Chief: It’s time Women Served On Subs (by Tom Philpott, Military.com)