Women get to serve on US submarines
Source: Agencies |
May 1, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE United States Navy says women will start serving on submarines as early as next year, lifting a symbolically important barrier to women in the armed forces.
Women, who account for about 15 percent of the more than 336,000 members of the US Navy, can already serve on its surface ships.
But critics have long argued that submarines were different, pointing to long deployments below the sea and cramped quarters where some crews share beds in shifts -- a practice known as "hot bunking."
Briefing reporters on the policy change, Rear Admiral Barry Bruner said the navy aimed to train an initial group of 19 women officers who, due to their rank, would have separate quarters from enlisted crew.
"I wouldn't call it a quota, but it's a goal," Bruner said, adding it was important to bring in enough women "so they're not isolated" aboard individual submarines.
They will start serving on ballistic missile and guided missile submarines in late 2011 or early 2012.
Bruner acknowledged lingering concerns among some navy wives but said they were not related to "hanky panky" below the sea. Instead, their concerns centered on whether men and women would be treated equally in their career paths.
The change comes as the Pentagon prepares for a possible end to the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays in the military.
The move also coincides with another key lifestyle change for submariners, as many as 40 percent of whom smoke, according to one survey, but who must ditch smoking aboard when a ban goes into effect on December 31.
Bruner noted that there was about a year for crews to adjust to the smoking ban before the first women came aboard. "We understand that change is tough, and we certainly don't want to put two tough things together," he said.
Proponents of the role of women in the forces say the change for submarines is important but note they are still barred from traditional frontline combat roles in the military.
Women, who account for about 15 percent of the more than 336,000 members of the US Navy, can already serve on its surface ships.
But critics have long argued that submarines were different, pointing to long deployments below the sea and cramped quarters where some crews share beds in shifts -- a practice known as "hot bunking."
Briefing reporters on the policy change, Rear Admiral Barry Bruner said the navy aimed to train an initial group of 19 women officers who, due to their rank, would have separate quarters from enlisted crew.
"I wouldn't call it a quota, but it's a goal," Bruner said, adding it was important to bring in enough women "so they're not isolated" aboard individual submarines.
They will start serving on ballistic missile and guided missile submarines in late 2011 or early 2012.
Bruner acknowledged lingering concerns among some navy wives but said they were not related to "hanky panky" below the sea. Instead, their concerns centered on whether men and women would be treated equally in their career paths.
The change comes as the Pentagon prepares for a possible end to the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays in the military.
The move also coincides with another key lifestyle change for submariners, as many as 40 percent of whom smoke, according to one survey, but who must ditch smoking aboard when a ban goes into effect on December 31.
Bruner noted that there was about a year for crews to adjust to the smoking ban before the first women came aboard. "We understand that change is tough, and we certainly don't want to put two tough things together," he said.
Proponents of the role of women in the forces say the change for submarines is important but note they are still barred from traditional frontline combat roles in the military.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
