Hot Topic (2/24): Should women serve on submarines?
Navy says it is ready to end ban on women in submarines
Washington (CNN) -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has notified Congress of plans to allow women to serve aboard submarines, a Defense Department official said Tuesday.
Letters of intent were sent Monday to Congress, which has requested briefings on the matter, said the official, who asked not to be identified. There will be no vote on the matter in Congress.
The change was recommended by the chief of naval operations and the secretary of the Navy in addition to Gates, the official said, adding that there was no opposition to the move among Navy leaders.
A phased approach is being considered under which officers -- who already have separate living quarters -- would be the first to go co-ed, followed by crews, with the women bunking together, the official said. Crew space would have to be modified prior to that happening, the official added.
The submarines expected to carry women initially would be the larger ones -- nuclear-power, missile-carrying submarines known as SSBN and SSGN, the official said.
Women joined the crews of the Navy's surface ships in 1993, but officials had previously cited limited privacy and the cost of reconfiguring the vessels in arguing against their joining sub crews.
Last September, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead described himself as "very comfortable addressing integrating women into the submarine force."
"Accommodations are a factor, but not insurmountable," he said.
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Your thoughts?
Are you in favor of women serving on submarines?
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I think it's a good thing they are allowing us to serve on Subs... I am Active Duty Navy and personally I don't want to go on a sub. I have been on 4 different types of ships , including being with the first group of enlisted females on board an Amphibious ship. When we integrated on the Amphib, they had the guys so scared from all the Sexual Harassment training and sensitivity training they had before we got there, the guys wouldn't even as to pass the salt in the chow hall... They need to make sure that the integration happens just as if it were another Sailor checking on board, not a female sailor checking on board...
While I say that women should be able to do whatever job they want to do there are just some things that women are not good at nor qualified for. Navy Seals (as someone mentioned) does not have female members because the physical strength needed to pass the tests is to much for the women who have tried in the past. Could some woman eventually pass? Yes, but it hasn't happened so far.
As far as submarines... the units on these subs submerge for LONG periods of time which means that women would have their periods on board and there is no where for that stinky trash to go (I'm sorry if that sounds petty but think about having 6 women on their period at the same time and not having anywhere to throw the tampons and pads away). Ew. But even if they did something to fix that there are other issues.
Think what you want but when men and women are bunked together they have sex. (gasp!). So, a few women on a sub full of men = someone getting knocked up eventually. And don't tell me I'm being rude and assuming how military women act because this happens now (even on the battlefield) and it happens A LOT. So what happens when a female on ship gets pregnant? the mission has to halt. You can't have a pregnant woman on a sub... for her health and the health of the baby. So they would have to surface therefore giving away their position and they would have to wait for airlift to remove that woman from the sub. BIG waste of their time and resources.
And I won't even get into the sexual harassment that would be going on down there!
So, in my opinion.... No. Women should not serve on submarines.
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:
While I say that women should be able to do whatever job they want to do there are just some things that women are not good at nor qualified for. Navy Seals (as someone mentioned) does not have female members because the physical strength needed to pass the tests is to much for the women who have tried in the past. Could some woman eventually pass? Yes, but it hasn't happened so far.
As far as submarines... the units on these subs submerge for LONG periods of time which means that women would have their periods on board and there is no where for that stinky trash to go (I'm sorry if that sounds petty but think about having 6 women on their period at the same time and not having anywhere to throw the tampons and pads away). Ew. But even if they did something to fix that there are other issues.
Think what you want but when men and women are bunked together they have sex. (gasp!). So, a few women on a sub full of men = someone getting knocked up eventually. And don't tell me I'm being rude and assuming how military women act because this happens now (even on the battlefield) and it happens A LOT. So what happens when a female on ship gets pregnant? the mission has to halt. You can't have a pregnant woman on a sub... for her health and the health of the baby. So they would have to surface therefore giving away their position and they would have to wait for airlift to remove that woman from the sub. BIG waste of their time and resources.
And I won't even get into the sexual harassment that would be going on down there!
So, in my opinion.... No. Women should not serve on submarines.
I totally agree with everything you said!
I agree.
I don't feel like typing a huge response, but this sums up a lot of it.
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:While I say that women should be able to do whatever job they want to do there are just some things that women are not good at nor qualified for. Navy Seals (as someone mentioned) does not have female members because the physical strength needed to pass the tests is to much for the women who have tried in the past. Could some woman eventually pass? Yes, but it hasn't happened so far.
As far as submarines... the units on these subs submerge for LONG periods of time which means that women would have their periods on board and there is no where for that stinky trash to go (I'm sorry if that sounds petty but think about having 6 women on their period at the same time and not having anywhere to throw the tampons and pads away). Ew. But even if they did something to fix that there are other issues.
Think what you want but when men and women are bunked together they have sex. (gasp!). So, a few women on a sub full of men = someone getting knocked up eventually. And don't tell me I'm being rude and assuming how military women act because this happens now (even on the battlefield) and it happens A LOT. So what happens when a female on ship gets pregnant? the mission has to halt. You can't have a pregnant woman on a sub... for her health and the health of the baby. So they would have to surface therefore giving away their position and they would have to wait for airlift to remove that woman from the sub. BIG waste of their time and resources.
And I won't even get into the sexual harassment that would be going on down there!
So, in my opinion.... No. Women should not serve on submarines.
What do they do with the rest of the stinky trash? This is the same excuse they keep using for keeping women off subs...periods. They tried to do this with women in the workforce too. Bear in mind also that many women now take advantage of BC that prevents periods.
As for having to surface, subs do not stay submerged for the entire mission. There is nothing saying that they cannot take a couple days once the woman is discovered to be pregnant to get to an area that will not hurt the mission. There also needs to be harsher punishments for fraternization on board for Submarines and ships. Also, the military could require that women be on a reliable Birth Control if they wish to be apart of sub programs.
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:While I say that women should be able to do whatever job they want to do there are just some things that women are not good at nor qualified for. Navy Seals (as someone mentioned) does not have female members because the physical strength needed to pass the tests is to much for the women who have tried in the past. Could some woman eventually pass? Yes, but it hasn't happened so far.
As far as submarines... the units on these subs submerge for LONG periods of time which means that women would have their periods on board and there is no where for that stinky trash to go (I'm sorry if that sounds petty but think about having 6 women on their period at the same time and not having anywhere to throw the tampons and pads away). Ew. But even if they did something to fix that there are other issues.
Think what you want but when men and women are bunked together they have sex. (gasp!). So, a few women on a sub full of men = someone getting knocked up eventually. And don't tell me I'm being rude and assuming how military women act because this happens now (even on the battlefield) and it happens A LOT. So what happens when a female on ship gets pregnant? the mission has to halt. You can't have a pregnant woman on a sub... for her health and the health of the baby. So they would have to surface therefore giving away their position and they would have to wait for airlift to remove that woman from the sub. BIG waste of their time and resources.
And I won't even get into the sexual harassment that would be going on down there!
So, in my opinion.... No. Women should not serve on submarines.
Heather
The Witchy Momma
Rise up this morning, smile at the rising sun; Three little birds, pitch by my doorstep; Singing sweet songs, a melody pure and true; Singing, this is my message to you-ou-ou; Singing Don't worry, about a thing; Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
If they would implement what you just said then I say go for it. And I wasn't trying to make excuses... it's just my opinion of why I don't think it would be the best idea. If they could make the women be on some form of BC that would be ideal. And I TOTALLY agree that fraternization needs to have stronger punishments.
Quoting hsteele:
What do they do with the rest of the stinky trash? This is the same excuse they keep using for keeping women off subs...periods. They tried to do this with women in the workforce too. Bear in mind also that many women now take advantage of BC that prevents periods.
As for having to surface, subs do not stay submerged for the entire mission. There is nothing saying that they cannot take a couple days once the woman is discovered to be pregnant to get to an area that will not hurt the mission. There also needs to be harsher punishments for fraternization on board for Submarines and ships. Also, the military could require that women be on a reliable Birth Control if they wish to be apart of sub programs.
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:
While I say that women should be able to do whatever job they want to do there are just some things that women are not good at nor qualified for. Navy Seals (as someone mentioned) does not have female members because the physical strength needed to pass the tests is to much for the women who have tried in the past. Could some woman eventually pass? Yes, but it hasn't happened so far.
As far as submarines... the units on these subs submerge for LONG periods of time which means that women would have their periods on board and there is no where for that stinky trash to go (I'm sorry if that sounds petty but think about having 6 women on their period at the same time and not having anywhere to throw the tampons and pads away). Ew. But even if they did something to fix that there are other issues.
Think what you want but when men and women are bunked together they have sex. (gasp!). So, a few women on a sub full of men = someone getting knocked up eventually. And don't tell me I'm being rude and assuming how military women act because this happens now (even on the battlefield) and it happens A LOT. So what happens when a female on ship gets pregnant? the mission has to halt. You can't have a pregnant woman on a sub... for her health and the health of the baby. So they would have to surface therefore giving away their position and they would have to wait for airlift to remove that woman from the sub. BIG waste of their time and resources.
And I won't even get into the sexual harassment that would be going on down there!
So, in my opinion.... No. Women should not serve on submarines.
My Husband serves on a trident submarine and they don't have trash cans full of garbage laying around. They field day frequently and the trash is dealt with and disposed of off the boat. There would be no feminine hygiene products laying around stinking up the boat. Honestly, the boat stinks enough already, even if it were the case that there may be an odor, the boat smell stinks like man sweat, chemicals and diesel fuel already.
As far as the sex thing, it happens on surface ships. It wouldn't be any different on subs. If they get pregnant, that could be an issue, but it's not a medical emergency and unless the woman protested, they could probably wait until deployment is over. Fast attack subs they could easily transfer to a ship that they are accompanying and a trident, they could just wait till deployment is over. There is no health risk to the baby being on a submarine other than your surrounded by a predominantly male crew who will have little sympathy for you.
The reason I don't want women on board submarines is that my husband serves on one. LOL!! I'm not concerned with any flirtation or cheating but I would be jealous that some other female gets to spend time with my husband when i can't. Ok ok...I know..dumb reason. I don't think women are incapable, but their personalities would have to be of a nature as to mesh well with the crew and be able to be confined in small spaces for long time with only a few other women as companions. If they want to do this, in the mean time working in and around males, some of which are hostile towards them invading their turf, I say try it. You probably won't stay on subs. If women are going to serve in the military (something I personally can't wrap my mind around for various reasons) but if your going to then a sub is one of the safest places to serve.
I don't like it but it's kind of a done deal. The time is coming whether I like it or not.
Quoting Mommy_of_Riley:While I say that women should be able to do whatever job they want to do there are just some things that women are not good at nor qualified for. Navy Seals (as someone mentioned) does not have female members because the physical strength needed to pass the tests is to much for the women who have tried in the past. Could some woman eventually pass? Yes, but it hasn't happened so far.
As far as submarines... the units on these subs submerge for LONG periods of time which means that women would have their periods on board and there is no where for that stinky trash to go (I'm sorry if that sounds petty but think about having 6 women on their period at the same time and not having anywhere to throw the tampons and pads away). Ew. But even if they did something to fix that there are other issues.
Think what you want but when men and women are bunked together they have sex. (gasp!). So, a few women on a sub full of men = someone getting knocked up eventually. And don't tell me I'm being rude and assuming how military women act because this happens now (even on the battlefield) and it happens A LOT. So what happens when a female on ship gets pregnant? the mission has to halt. You can't have a pregnant woman on a sub... for her health and the health of the baby. So they would have to surface therefore giving away their position and they would have to wait for airlift to remove that woman from the sub. BIG waste of their time and resources.
And I won't even get into the sexual harassment that would be going on down there!
So, in my opinion.... No. Women should not serve on submarines.
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on Feb. 24, 2010 at 1:39 AM