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First women qualify as submarine officers
KOMO TV (Seattle ABC affiliate) ^ | Dec 8, 2012 | Kelly Koopmans

Posted on 12/09/2012 10:05:12 AM PST by Salman

For the last century all fully-qualified submarine officers have been men. But that all changed when two women were honored with their Navy dolphin pins.

The ceremony on Wednesday at Naval Base Kitsap was a graduation day of sorts with crowds, caps, and uniforms.

From a cluster of colleagues, two female crew members of the USS Maine ballistic missile submarine were called front and center for a designation that made them qualified submariners. The two junior lieutenants were among the first three women in the submarine force's 112-year history to get their dolphins.

"This is the mark where your command puts their confidence in you," said Lieutenant junior grade Jennifer Noonan.

Fellow submariner Lieutenant junior grade Amber Cowan also got her pin and said she was thrilled.

"I'm a little bit in shock I think," she said.

Cowan, a University of Washington graduate, and Noonan, a Boston native, each reported to the USS Maine nearly one year ago after completing 15 months of nuclear power school and rigorous training.

Now, they're officially part of the team.

"They really become like a family more than just the people you work with every day," said Noonan.

The next group of female submariners will begin arriving at boats in January. That's when they'll begin their training toward earning their own dolphin pins.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: submarine; women
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There's going to be trouble over this.
1 posted on 12/09/2012 10:05:18 AM PST by Salman
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To: Salman

I hope you’re right, sadly.


2 posted on 12/09/2012 10:08:03 AM PST by brivette
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To: Salman

How long until theyre pregnant...? They want to use BOOMERS as social experiment labs...?

SOMETHING WILL SPILL.


3 posted on 12/09/2012 10:11:33 AM PST by gaijin
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To: Salman

Trouble: As well there should be. Once again, the best and most qualified were not chosen - this is dangerous to national security, but oh so good for the career and resume for the girls. So happy for that /s/


4 posted on 12/09/2012 10:12:05 AM PST by Sioux-san
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To: brivette

I’m an ex navy nuke submariner.


5 posted on 12/09/2012 10:13:29 AM PST by brivette
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To: Salman

Ever hear what happens when a MAN tries to use services for domestic violence..?

He is thrown out on his ear with very little reservation.


6 posted on 12/09/2012 10:14:02 AM PST by gaijin
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To: Salman

Operation Petticoat.


7 posted on 12/09/2012 10:14:22 AM PST by Argus
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To: Salman
USS Love Boat...
8 posted on 12/09/2012 10:20:44 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Salman

Gives an all new meaning to the order to “DIVE, DIVE, DIVE”.


9 posted on 12/09/2012 10:24:43 AM PST by shove_it (the 0bama regime are the people Huxley, Orwell and Rand warned us about)
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To: brivette

My son’s a buble-head glow-worm. From what he tells me, they’ll have better luck accomodating them on a boomer than an attack sub.


10 posted on 12/09/2012 10:25:48 AM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Salman

For some reason this little news story brings to mind the movie, “Down Periscope”.

As for trouble, I doubt it. After all they are Officers and Ladies working along side Officers and Gentlemen. It’s not like they are enlisted people. Right? Right? Sure it’s right.
snicker snicker snort.


11 posted on 12/09/2012 10:31:28 AM PST by Tupelo (Hunkered down & loading up)
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To: tacticalogic

this is true, having served on board a fast attack.


12 posted on 12/09/2012 10:32:34 AM PST by brivette
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To: Salman

The military was the last place where “progressives” had little to no influence, and it was the only thing our government did well. Not anymore.


13 posted on 12/09/2012 10:43:20 AM PST by youngidiot (God help us.)
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To: Salman
>> The two junior lieutenants

BZZZTTT! The media gets it wrong again. Junior lieutenants are newly promoted LTs -- O-3. These two are lieutenants, junior grade (O-2). The media goes out of its way to screw-up any article involving the military, as if such continuing mistakes were a badge of honor.

14 posted on 12/09/2012 10:50:27 AM PST by pabianice (washington, dc ..)
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To: Tupelo

Exactly. We have had some rather notable removals from command recently. Including one for a CO swimming nude with other officers, in front of an entire group of sailors and family members in his command— at his own party.


15 posted on 12/09/2012 11:06:03 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: John S Mosby

Good that guy sounds like he should be removed


16 posted on 12/09/2012 11:07:45 AM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: Chode
USS Love Boat...

Sorry. Already taken.

That would be USS Eisenhower CVN 69.

17 posted on 12/09/2012 11:11:20 AM PST by seowulf ("If you write a whole line of zeroes, it's still---nothing"...Kira Alexandrovna Argounova)
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To: shove_it

Yeah. And new meaning to ‘’All ahead full!’’.


18 posted on 12/09/2012 11:14:41 AM PST by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: Salman

Dive! Dive! A-oooooooooooo-gah!


19 posted on 12/09/2012 11:15:36 AM PST by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: seowulf
yeah i forgot... but they get to start the almost mile low club
20 posted on 12/09/2012 11:16:56 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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