Exclusive: Navy to Lift Ban on Women Serving Aboard Submarines

ABC News ^ | February 23, 2010 | DAVID KERLEY and LUIS MARTINEZ

[SloopJohnB]

Women are a big step closer to serving on U.S. Navy submarines. ABC News has learned that the Navy has decided to lift the ban on female submarine crew members. Subs are one of the last places in the military from which women are excluded.

[SloopJohnB]

Surface ships are one thing where fooling around and pregnancy happens (like the bumper sticker says).

Cooped up on long patrols with sexual tension........?

[OKSooner]

Oh that sounds like fun... /s

[King_Corey]

Queue the Jokes now...

Dive! Dive! Dive!

[Waverunner]

Helen Thomas has volunteered to go first.

[Marty62]

My son was a submariner. doesn’t sound like a good idea.

But then with the militaries new policy..maybe there will not be a problem from either sex. lol

[jpsb]

Total insanity plus repeal of don’t ask don’t tell. Good-bye US military might.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Will it be painted pink?

[massgopguy]

Will Operation Petticoat become a training film?

[naturalized]

More federally funded abortions in . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1.

[BlueLancer]

Take ‘er down ... full ...

[HEM]

When they first proposed this many years ago they discussed the lack of space on subs. They discussed removing weapons systems and other important facilities to make accommodations for women such as separate toilets and showers.

What accommodations are they making for the ladies and how does this hurt our ability to wage war?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Uh oh!

[P from Sheb]

Beat me by 23 seconds.

[coaltrain]

What’s long and hard and filled with, er, seawomen? Forget it, it doesn’t work anymore.

[evets]

[RedMDer]

They’re away and swimming sir!

[slapshot]

gives new meaning to phrase “hot bunk”

[gitmogrunt]

Whatta joke! Our military has been subverted and socially engineered for a second place finish.

[Pajama Blogger]

Report fails to mention that only butt ugly chicks and bull dykes will be allowed in submarines.

[Paperdoll]

WELL, LORD LOVE A DUCK! WHO WILL BE MANNING THE SUB? THIS HAS TO HAVE COME FROM A RANK “PROGRESSIVE”, YOU KNOW, THE SAME GUYS WHO PUT OVERT SEX ON TV, SEX-ED IN THE SCHOOLS, PORN ON EVERY CORNER, ANDARE TRYING TO BURY THE BIBLE!

[puppypusher]

So when does the love boat actually depart on it’s next cruise?

[gitmogrunt]

Sir,The tampons seem to have clogged the torpedo tube.

[Jessarah]

My son was a submariner. doesn’t sound like a good idea.

The article says they're deployed for around 7 mos. I don't know how anyone can stand that. Do they get any breaks at all to get Vitamin D and sunshine in their systems? I think I'd rather be in the desert!....maybe.

[Jewbacca]

Hear the one about the gay whale who attacked a submarine?

He grabbed onto the end of the boat and sucked the seamen out.

[Pan_Yan]

So one month into a deployment, under the ice, she has an ectopic pregnancy.

[Jewbacca]

[DoughtyOne]

I DO NOT agree with placing women on our submarines.

I’m a thirty year throw back, since I’ve never been a supporter of women in the military.

That’s my take on it, and I haven’t morphed it over time. I’m sure many people disagree with me.

That being said, I respect women for having served just as much as I do the men, but if I had my druthers, women would be out.

[MaryFromMichigan]

For what it’s worth, I agree with you completely.

[Leo Carpathian]

the rest of the story:

...the new chickmarines will be painted pink with peace signs, torpedoes replaced by makeup chambers, massage parlors, bikini gear and sunning saloooons.
Supply of white flags with 0ooooohusssseeiiin pres..ent portarait.
Hollywood working on movies depicting how they disarmed the terrrorrrists with love.

[Banjoguy]

The navy term “hot bunking” will take on an entirely new meaning.

[oldsalt]

As a retired Navy CPO with 26 years of service,albeit many years ago,I have asked myself the following question many times.

How does having women at sea manning a combat vessel improve the combat efficiency,or the good order and discipline,of that vessel?

I know the answer,but all I ever heard from the powers that be was the chirping of crickets. Just my humble opinion.

BTW the answer is...it doesn't.

[Sister_T]

That makes two of us.

[Rooivalk]

I also agree with you. I cannot think of one instance where having women in the military has enhanced our capabilities

[Tallguy]

The Navy is mixing gasoline (young men) and dynamite (young women) all while declaring that they have a strong policy against sparks (sex). Good luck, but we already know the outcome!

[red tie]

Report fails to mention that only butt ugly chicks and bull dykes will be allowed in submarines.

Geez, that sure doesn't paint a good recruiting poster.

[F15Eagle]

More hope and change from our Community-Organizer-in-Chief.

[NativeNewYorker]

[dfwgator]

I think those guys prefer “Sea Men.”

[bmwcyle]

Another stupid idea from this government. STS2/SS

[Pajama Blogger]

Somebody has to clean and cook!

[steve86]

The wiser male members of the crew should refuse to board the boat, en masse. The less wise should also, even if they don't understand how really bad an idea this is. There are other jobs available for Navy women where these issues don't arise.

[Jewbacca]

“I cannot think of one instance where having women in the military has enhanced our capabilities.”

Ludmilla Pavlichenko

Heck, even Dr. Ruth.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/doctor/drruth.asp

[LibLieSlayer]

There will be fights and lots of submariner babies.

LLS

[swarthyguy]

>our ability to wage war?

We’re never gonna use them anyway, so why not try something new.

Now the officers will have to be relationship counselors and therapists like their surface counterparts.

Just saw the 6 hour German TV version of Das Boot on Comcast ondemand. I know the USN is far more considerate of creature comforts and there’s more space, but women in those quarters will be the stuff of legendary Naval scuttlebutt on land!

[ColdWater]

I know the USN is far more considerate of creature comforts and there’s more space, but women in those quarters will be the stuff of legendary Naval scuttlebutt on land!

I was on an old 637 class which is cramped by today's standards but it was a mansion compared to the old WWII boats.

[MinorityRepublican]

What the frack happened to this country. As recently as 10 years ago, this proposal was considered unthinkable!

[Jeff Gordon]

This article does not square with this other April, 2008 article in the New York Times.

US Navy Mans Two Nuclear Subs with Women

"with the backing of outgoing President George Bush, the Navy plans to get women into submarines and avoid mixing with seamen by making two US Virginia class subs consist of all-female crew and officers.

One of the first female Prospective Commanding Officers for submarines, Commander Sarah Bentworth, is eager to get started. She spend two tours aboard the USS Virginia in order to prepare for her first sub command. The Navy spokesman says the plan should be implemented by Dec 2009."

[AngryJawa]

Navy to Lift Ban on Women Serving Aboard Submarines

Yeah, this'll end well.

Carry on.

[swarthyguy]

Had to go look.

[ken5050]

Possibly now the Navy will revisit the naming of its subs, and choose to honor some of the great fleet boats of WW II..there's the Wahoo!, Barracuda, Bonefish, Plunger, Pompon, and of course Bang to choose from..