AGAINST WOMEN ON SUBS
Thank you for your July 23 article “Hot summer cruise,” which described the inappropriate relationship between the chief of the boat and a female midshipman aboard the ballistic-missile submarine Nebraska.
I am a retired submariner opposed to the policy change that allowed women to serve as crew members on submarines. I participated quite extensively in the controversial discussion leading up to this change and learned much about the issue.
I have one major issue with the article. The story read:
“From the moment Navy leaders first announced in 2009 that women would be assigned to subs, the most strident opponents of the initiative have been submariners’ wives.”
Wives have not been the most “strident” opponents of this policy change. I conducted [an online petition] during the controversial discussion on this issue. It currently contains more than over 600 comments. While some people may think it is only the wives and girlfriends who are opposed, my petition shows more opposition from former sailors and active-duty sailors.
There are valid medical, physical and psychological concerns, none of which the Navy has given any indication of having considered appropriately in deciding to make this policy change. The Submarine Assignment Policy Assessment of 1995 contains a wealth of information that supported the Navy’s decision in 1993 not to assign women to submarine crews. The issues pointed out in this report are as valid now as they were in 1995. In deciding to make the current policy change, the Navy did nothing to address the issues pointed out in the policy assessment, nor the concerns pointed out in several other documents.
It is my firm opinion, and that of many others with experience in the submarine community, that this policy change was politically motivated with little concern for the many effects, mostly negative, that the change would have on submarine mission effectiveness and operational readiness. Additionally, the Navy’s inability to get a handle on the ongoing issue of fraternization only highlights the shortsightedness the Navy showed in making this policy change.
ETCS (SS/SW) John A. Mason (ret.) Comer, Ga
© 2009-2022 John A. Mason