Women to Begin Serving on Navy Submarines for the First Time

3 years ago

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Women will serve on Navy submarines for the first time beginning next year, breaking a gender barrier that goes back to the start of the elite military program.

Rear Adm. Barry Bruner said during a press conference Thursday that women will report for submarine duty by fall of 2011, CNN reported. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the policy change last month, and Congress took the required 30 days to review and approve it.

Candidates will be selected from the Naval Academy, the collegiate Reserve Officer Training Corps, and officer candidate schools. They will undergo a 15-month program, including nuclear power school, sub training, and the Submarine Officer Basic Course.

Three female officers will be assigned to eight different crews of guided missile attack and ballistic missile submarines. The assignments involve two subs on the East Coast and two on the West Coast, according to Navy officials.

Once officers are integrated into the sub squadrons, female enlisted sailors will arrive during a second phase in coming years, CNN reported.

Women joined the crews of the Navy's surface ships in 1994.

Filed Under: Military

Tagged: Daily Guidance, DailyGuidance, military, Navy, submarines, subs, women

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