Friday, May 7, 2010

Women on subs

Midshipman Jessica Wilcox (second from the left), of Honesdale, Pa., said she has wanted to be an officer on a submarine since her first year at the (United States Naval) academy. Wilcox said she was drawn by the highly technical and skilled professionalism she saw in both the officer and enlisted ranks during a 24-hour submarine tour.

"For me, the best part of it was definitely the interaction between the officer and the enlisted crew," Wilcox said.

NOTE: I recall great resistance to our first female Naval Aircrewman (CTI2 Nancy A. Johnson) flying aboard the EP-3E airborne reconnaissance aircraft in the early 1980s. She was as good as any of our male aircrewman and better than many. She did not require any special treatment and she didn't get any.

6 comments:

ParatrooperJJ said...

Not looking forward to the fetal radiation damage claims.

Anonymous said...

JJ Said: "Not looking forward to the fetal radiation damage claims."

Women have been performing with honor in the nuclear reactor onboard aircraft carrier for years now. What say you?

Marie said...

I think it's wonderful that they're finally learning that a bathroom only needs a lock and a sign that flips to say Men/Women. ;)

PS: Great blog.

Anonymous said...

Captain Lambert,

There is no doubt in my mind that Women can do any job in the Navy. But the administrative Navy in my consideration gave this idea very little thought. What do you do with this motivated Female Sailor on a Submarine where she will be unable to advance to command, she (the present selectee) is not a Nuc, and that should have been where women started on Submarines. Back a few years, maybe more than just a few, the Navigator the Executive Officer and the Captain of a nuclear powered Submarine were required to have been nuclear engineers. I am not a Nuc but it is my understanding that Nuclear Power School has a rather high drop out rate. They had better send more than just one at a time to insure they get some qualified candidates.

My little fears are probably nothing because the Navy with folks like the present SECNAV will probably take it in their power to change any rules that made sense and contributed to the morale of the Sailor and the efficiency of the Navy. To something that possibly does just the opposite. But as says in “The Laws of the Navy”, And the truck of the law is - OBEY!

Very Respectfully,
Navyman834

Mike Lambert said...

Let's hope the Navy doesn't issue a Guide for Command of Female Submariners as they did with this Guide for Command of Negro Sailors

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/guide_negro_personnel.htm

Women will not be the problem; just as Blacks were not the problem. The Navy's implementation (though well-meaning) will be ill conceived. And, the Sailor will be left to "make it work".

Anonymous said...

What do I think of the Navy's plan to allow women on submarines? I CONSIDER IT AN ABSOLUTELY STUPID AND ABSURD IDEA. Look what has happened on surface ships. Numerous cases involving female sailors who got PREGNANT ON BOARD. And DONT TELL ME THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED OR IS A PROBLEM. And you people think THAT WILL NOT OCCUR on SUBMARINES ONCE THE GIRLS REPORT FOR DUTY?! Nope, this stupidity involves much more than a bathroom that only needs a lock and a sign that flips to say Men/Women. By the way Marie, there ARE NO BATHROOMS IN THE NAVAL SERVICE. It is referred to as "THE HEAD". Then again, as a liberal and apparent feminist,you wouldnt know about that. Subs stay at sea for months, but that is going to change when the gals aboard these subs start getting pregnant. I myself served in the Army (HONORABLY), and I invite you politically correct people to notice that I served on the same team: The United States Armed Forces. Officers who condone this nonsense should be thrown out of the service. along with the politically correct fools, dolts and feminists. The blog owner probably wont publish this because I am not politically correct. I am the first one to admit that. I am merely a Patriot. Go ahead and call me a sexist! I dont care! At least I am honest, and you sure as hell cant courtmartial me for opposing this stupidity.