Today is the day women advance another step on the road to equality

[Stinky The Clown]

In the overall scheme of things, this is a small step taken way over in the corner. But it is a step nonetheless - and one deserved.

Today, in Annapolis, the first eleven women allowed to serve on submarines will graduate from the US Naval Academy. They will, along with two ROTC seniors, join the active service as ensigns.

I am glad for this. The day after DADT was voted out by a senate committee.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/05/navy_women_subs_051110w/

13 female mids excited to be first on subs

By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 17, 2010 8:56:43 EDT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The 11 Naval Academy and two NROTC seniors picked to be the first women to serve aboard submarines are looking forward to life in the undersea service.

The Navy’s announcement of the selections came May 6, one week after the change was made official. But these women began getting ready when news broke last fall that a change was coming.

The 11 academy midshipmen, scheduled to graduate later this month, had already received their fleet assignments before being rerouted into the sub force. Eight were to become nuclear officers aboard aircraft carriers, one was to be a conventional surface warfare officer, one was headed to the Marine Corps and one was to be an aviator.

The selectees downplayed their roles as pioneers, but spoke excitedly when talking about the challenge and camaraderie inherent in a sub crew.

[Captain Hilts]

1. I'm pummeled with e-mails from sub vets complaining about this. Tough shit. Way to go!

Pride Runs Deep!

Thanks Stinky!

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Yup. It was the right thing to do.

[hootinholler]

3. Well this sub vet thinks it will take some adjustment...

But overall it is a good thing and the generation we have raised is much better about equality than we were.

-Hoot (ss)

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Hoot, you're very right, on all counts.

The younger generation is better at this than we were.

We accommodated women on surface ships. We can accommodate them on the new, big boats, too. The USCG has had them on small boats - with berths - for years.

[Captain Hilts]

5. It certainly will take some adjustment. No doubt about that.

But this is a decision they were forced to make because the officer corps has lost a huge cohort of potential submarine officers to eye correction surgery. It used to be smart Academy kids that failed the vision test for aviation would go into subs. Now, they line up at Bethesda Naval and have their vision surgically corrected. It's been a huge blow to the sub force. This year, for the FIRST time ever USNA is making mids whose first choice is NOT subs, go into subs.

There simply are not enough capable and willing folks going into subs.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Heh ......

..... there's a very good reason sub service pays better. It is not an easy life/job.

[Captain Hilts]

8. It's a very 'self-selecting' population. Women that self-selecting will be

extraordinary in the same way that the men who do so are.

So many of the straw man arguments against this are based on the moronic stereotypes of women you see on TV. A woman who prefers to hang out at the mall is not going to volunteer. A woman who hates people will not volunteer. Etc.

What the hell, they fit in the racks, eat less and consume less air.

[laughingliberal]

6. Rec nt

[Book Lover]

9. I appreciate the supporting voice of the vets here

I've followed the blogosphere discussion on this, and while that's hardly a representative sample of the men serving on these vessels, the support does seem to be there. So, thanks guys!

On the other, revolutionary feminist hand, it's not really all that much of a blow to the patriarchy, for us to be given access to a special place in the military. Maybe it will have the sideways effect of increasing respect for women in general.

[Captain Hilts]

10. A good number of sub vets like the idea of their daughters and grand daughters having

this opportunity. Tom Conlon, head of the sub force's alumni association - USSVI, for one, is.

[Book Lover]

12. That's a perspective I hadn't thought about

and also good to know! :-)

[Bettie]

11. A good step forward

Though, I cannot even imagine being in a tin can under the sea! Yikes.

[Captain Hilts]

13. I've done it, but, boy, do I ever break a sweat on an airplane!!

[hootinholler]

14. The best part is making styrofoam shot glasses

:rofl:

You take a mesh bag, put some coffee cups in it and tie it off in the superstructure. After the patrol, you have shot glasses.

-Hoot

[CTyankee]

15. Get me my smelling salts, I'm going to faint on the couch!

Women on submarines!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

16. I really wonder who the misogynists are who have signalled their disapproval of this ....

.... by giving it an unrec. Will anyone man up and say why? This was up to seven and is now down to three.

[canetoad]

17. So I'll negate one with a rec and a kick

Another brick in the inequality wall is removed.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. It could be the anti-military people.

[canetoad]

20. More likely the community of masturbators

over at the forum which shall not be named. They love stuff like that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Fair seas and following winds

...

ABOUT BLOODY TIME.

[proudohioan]

21. Great news for us, and good news for them.

And the only reason I say 'good' rather than 'great' news for them, is my own claustrophobia. :scared:

[Captain Hilts]

22. I'm claustrophobic, but it didn't bother me on my ride. I get how they work, unlike airliners !

[proudohioan]

25. Oh my!

That's impressive, to say the least!

I'm a total wuss; I have a hard time sleeping in the upstairs of a Cape Cod that doesn't have more than one or two small windows!

My hat's off to you, and others that serve on submarines!

:patriot:

[Captain Hilts]

26. Dad was a sub skipper. So...

they've been familiar to me ever since I've been.

[Divine Discontent]

23. hear hear!!!

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. k&R YAY!