16 March 2010
Subject: Decision to allow women to serve aboard U.S. Navy Submarines
Stance: I am opposed to the decision.
This document outlines the personal methodology I used to develop my viewpoint concerning the issue of lifting the ban that would allow women to serve as crew members on board US Navy Submarines.
I developed this document to help others develop their own personal and professional viewpoint of this issue. I hope that others will benefit from the extensive research I have done on this issue. My personal and professional input to Congress will be based upon the research I accomplished as outlined in this document. Additionally you will find important contact information that will help you get in touch with the appropriate officials.
The purpose of this document is to invite the attention of the reader to the potential health-related concerns that would be harmful to a pregnant sailor and her embryo-fetus; and the influences of hormones on the social-psychological behavior of men and women, in order to persuade them to decide appropriately.
In no case should anyone cut and paste from each other’s papers to the extent that our letters go to Congress looking like spam. I recommend using unique Subject lines in your messages that clearly state that you are OPPOSED to the navy’s request to lift the ban to allow women to serve on submarines issue.
Very Important Note:
My professional experience and opinion of working with females is almost universally positive. Indeed I often felt that female sailors worked harder than their male counterparts.
I lived through many changes during my time in the service. It is inevitable and I am proud of my flexibility in ‘rolling with the punches’. I am, by nature, a very open individual, a consummate team-player, with an unflagging dedication to the fair treatment of everyone, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, or any other differential category.
Regardless of the ultimate decision that is made by both high level military personnel and our civilian leadership with respect to this policy shift or any other shift, they may be assured of my 100% support of that decision. While I cannot speak for my fellow sailors, based upon my experience, they will also support official policy whether they personally agree or disagree with the decision.
Please contact me if you need any more info or if I can help in this process in any way.
Email: john@johnmason.name
Phone: 706.743.3086
Very respectfully,
John A. Mason, ETCS(SS/SW)(USN Ret.)
Contents
Contents………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
My top three issues
NOTE: These are the top three issues that must be resolved before a lifting of the ban can be considered. This is my personal top three list based on my experience and what I learned during my research. YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE YOUR OWN AND YOUR OPINIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN MY OWN.
- Pregnancy, whether planned, unplanned, known, or unknown
- Mixed Gender Social-Psychological Aspect
- Difference in body structures between men and women and implications for duty on board submarine
Supporting Documentation that I used to develop my rationale
Submarine Assignment Policy Assessment dated 01 February 1995
NSMRL Technical Report #1219 dated 26 November 2001″The Medical Implications of Women On Submarines”
and here:
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA400035
NOTE: CDR Wayne Horn (Ret.) is presently serving as Head, Submarine Medicine & Survival Systems, at NSMRL, NLON. He can be reached at (860) 694-2514 wayne.horn@med.navy.med
The initial paper I wrote was based upon the personal and professional viewpoint I developed while in the service and continuing after I retired from the service:
My opinion of the controversy to allow women to serve aboard United States Submarines
‘Promoting Responsible Sexual Behavior Among Military Populations’
On the page 3:
‘Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of the Navy’. I do not understand how something posted at www.nmcphc.med.navy cannot be considered a statement supported by the Department of the Navy
From page 4:
Unplanned Pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancies among active duty Sailors continue to be of concern. In 2008, 2 of 3 (64%) pregnancies among surveyed enlisted female Sailors were unplanned. In other words, only 36% were intended. The national Healthy People 2010 objective is to increase the proportion of pregnancies that are intended to 70%. In 2005, 35% of surveyed male enlisted Sailors and 18% of female Sailors said “when a birth control method is not available, I believe you just have to take a chance and hope a pregnancy does not occur”. Lost duty days for unintended pregnancy health care, post-delivery convalescence and separations due to pregnancy have not been calculated. The presumably stressful impact of single parenthood on active duty members, families and Navy and Marine Corps commands has not been quantified.
NOTE: There may be more in this document that is applicable but I have not had a chance to review all of it.
Current Status of issue
Click here to see latest status on this issue.
Contact Information
Whatever your viewpoint, if you want an effective input on this issue, then you may want to consider contacting the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) members.
At this time, our efforts need to be directed towards Congress, i.e., the members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), because it will be up to them to approve or disapprove Navy’s request to change the policy. Our mission is to enlighten the members of the HASC and SASC.
Help them to understand about submarine duty including the unique aspects of the submarine environment and mission, the physical strength requirements to save the boat, the lack of any studies about the socio-psychological effects of changing the policy, etc. Discuss what your experiences have been to support your viewpoint. Be brief, factual, authoritative, and most importantly, do not become emotional. Remember, you will be contacting elected officials at the highest levels within our government. They deserve nothing but our utmost respect, as does the whole chain of command.
In addition to contacting the HASC and SASC you may also wish to contact the appropriate Senators in your state and the appropriate Representative from your district. The same rules of conduct apply; no exceptions.
You may contact them via email or a letter. I would encourage you to use email at this point because there is a potential two week delay in getting postal mail to Congress due to security concerns and screening requirements.
Send your email and/or a copy of your letter to the Chairmen and to the Ranking Members of the both Committees. The following is the contact information for the Chairmen of the HASC and SASC:
NOTE: I don’t think sending letters or emails to the SECNAV, CNO, or to COMSUBFOR would make any difference at this time because they have gone on record in favor of changing the current policy. Our best chance will be with the Congress.
IMPORTANT: If you have any doubts about whether this is appropriate for you to do then contact legal first. This is particularly important for those on active duty. I can’t vouch for current legal regulations with respect to how you can contact your elected officials. In any case, it is never appropriate to state directly or indirectly or even imply criticism of the chain of command. They are trying to do the best they can, as are we all.
Click here to view a sample of the letters I sent to our VIPs.
Civilian Contacts:
House Armed Services Committee
http://armedservices.house.gov/
The Chairman of the HASC is Congressman Ike Skelton, (D) MO, U.S. House of Representative 2206 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2504; click here to submit comment to Congressman Skelton
The Ranking Member of the HASC is Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon (R) CA, U.S. House of Representatives, 2184 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC, 20515; click here to submit comment to Congressman McKeon
Senate Armed Services Committee:
http://armed-services.senate.gov/
The Chairman of the SASC is Senator Carl Levin, 269 Russell Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; click here to submit comment to Senator Levin
The Ranking Member of the SASC is Senator John McCain, 241 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; click here to submit comment to Senator McCain
You may also wish to contact members from your state that serve as committee members on both the HASC and SASC. Here is the complete list:
House Armed Services Committee, Full Committee Members:
http://armedservices.house.gov/list_of_members.shtml
Senate Armed Services Committee, Full Committee Members:
http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm
I recommend you also contact your state Senators and the appropriate Representative from your congressional district.
Military Contacts:
Secretary of Defense:
http://www.defense.gov/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=115
Dr. Robert M. Gates
Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff:
http://www.jcs.mil/biography.aspx?ID=9
Admiral Mike Mullen
Secretary of the Navy:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ldr.asp?bioID=505&tid=1
Mr. Ray Mabus
Chief of Naval Operations:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ldr.asp?bioID=253&tid=5
Admiral Gary Roughead
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy:
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio_ldr.asp?bioID=497&tid=7
MCPON(SS/SW) Rick D. West
Commander, Submarine Force:
http://www.sublant.navy.mil/VADM-Donnelly.htm
Vice Admiral John J. Donnelly
FORCM(SS) Jeff Garrison
Commander, Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet:
Rear Admiral Douglas J. McAneny
FORCM(SS) David Lynch
Commander Strategic Forces
http://www.stratcom.mil/biographies/
General Kevin P. Chilton
Chief Master Sergeant Thomas S. Narofsky
Naval Personnel Command (BUPERS), Office of Women’s Policy (N134W)
http://www.npc.navy.mil/AboutUs/BUPERS/WomensPolicy/
Commander Submarine Group 10
http://csg10.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/women-in-submarines/ – comments
DACOWITS
NOTE: Since there may be a delay of up to two (2) weeks in getting mail to Congress I highly recommend using email in addition to your letter:
Some current locations where discussions are being held on this issue
- Center for Military Readiness
http://cmrlink.org/principles.asp
- Together We Served: http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=Home
Discussions are currently being held on the issue of Women On Submarines in the following forums:
NOTE: There is no moderation within these forums. Therefore not all posts in a thread may be pertinent to the topic at hand. Additionally, sailors will be sailors and there may be some inappropriate comments at times. Some of the discussion, regardless of what thread or post, may be considered as ‘toxic’. It’s all a part of free speech and the democratic process.
‘Political Discussions’ – ‘Women In Submarines’
‘Mess Decks’ – ‘Dam ! Subs’
‘Goat Locker’ – ‘Women In Submarines’
NOTE: This forum is open to Chief Petty Officers only.
‘Wardroom’ – ‘Request Permission To Enter’
NOTE: This forum is open to officers only. Since I am enlisted, I requested permission to enter, was given permission, and dropped a thread on the wardroom table. I do not know the status of this thread as I have not returned to the Wardroom. I do not know what the current status of this thread is.
- The Stupid Shall Be Punished
http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2010/02/women-on-submarines-its-pretty-much.html
NOTE: This is arguably the largest submarine-related blog on the web. This link points to the Women On Submarine threads, however there are many other military and non-military threads.
- Facebook:
You WILL find some inappropriate posts within these groups. If you weed out the inappropriate content, there are many decent posts. You will have to have a Facebook profile to review and post. There is no cost in joining Facebook. Within these groups you may get a general consensus of how the community is feeling, regardless of their stance on the issue. You may find links to pertinent websites that may provide illuminating information in either direction.
NOTE: My listing of any group, or not listing a group, does not imply that I endorse or do not endorse any group. Indeed some of these groups I am not a member of; others I visit infrequently and a few I check out regularly.
Military groups on Facebook i.e. ships, TYCOMS, MCPON, etc. These should be consider ‘official groups’.
NOTE: I recommend official rules of conduct be observed as noted earlier in this document.
U.S. Navy
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1006890398 – !/USNavy?ref=sgm
COMSUBPAC:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pearl-Harbor-I/COMSUBPAC/118087205405?ref=sgm
Submarine Group TEN
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kings-Bay-Ga-31548/Submarine-Group-TEN/88656327134?ref=sgm
Strategic Systems Programs
US Navy Nuclear Propulsion
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1006890398 – !/NavyNuclear?ref=sgm
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1006890398 – !/MCPON?ref=sgm
Unofficial military-related groups:
NOTE: I recommend that you discuss what your experiences have been to support your viewpoint. Be brief, factual, authoritative, and most importantly, do not become emotional. It is always in your best interest to remain rational. Of course you may choose to act as you wish; I am only lending my opinion.
Submarine Bubblehead Brotherhood
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=2212592960
US Navy Submariners
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=6566376926
USSVI – United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated
US Silent Service
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=100357161930
US Submarine Veterans
http://www.facebook.com/home.php? – !/group.php?gid=39324779191
Submariners
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=8558073777
Got Dolphins?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=9053821341
Respect For Submariners
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=214820001370
USSVI – Groton Base
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1006890398 – !/pages/USSVI-GROTON-BASE/230280664870?ref=sgm
International Submariners Association – USA
http://www.facebook.com/home.php? – !/group.php?gid=67697497081
Chief Petty Officers
http://www.facebook.com/home.php? – !/group.php?gid=60991203904
Facebook CPOA
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=1006890398 – !/group.php?gid=29667935901
US Navy Life
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1006890398 – !/USNavyLife?ref=sgm
A consideration – I found a very interesting idea at ‘The Stupid Shall Be Punished’. I just want to point it out for special mention. Please note that this comment is quoted word-for-word with no editing by me.
Anonymous said…
Women on boats. Ok, lets do something that the ignorant politicians have a tough time with, theory to practice before spending millions of dollars reconfiguring submarine classes to support this unproven progressive pipe dream.
Take the next hull to be razor blades and is getting low on the hours left. Assemble a crew of experienced bubbleheads. Identify and train female sailors slated for the submarine force. Assign the females to the training hull and fast cruise or really cruise for extended periods of time. Do a 6 month Westpac fastcruising or for real. Simulate or stay submerged for 6-8 weeks with no sunshine. Place everyone under the stress, fatigue and lack of sleep that is normal. Train, drill, qualify, go port and starboard, hotrack, FSAs, maintenance, occasional movie, survive mid-rats (mid-scraps or mid-crap) and all the boring and mundane things that comprise submarine operations. Bring a post-tour CO for adult supervision, bring a post tour COB for another set of eyes. Make the female test group large, 2 or more CDRs, 2 or more LCDRS, 6 LTs, 10 ensigns, 5 CPOS, 25 additional enlisted females of varying ratings. Decrease the male complement with the exception of the senior positions and force the qualified watch sections into high stress low sleep conditions for extended periods of time. Make the submarine crowded, uncomfortable and as much a stress producer as possible. Do this for at least a year. After a year, assemble all crewmembers, male and female and debrief and reconstruct everything. Let the crewmembers, both genders, speak honestly and document what they found out and what there perceptions are. Make this a real test and see what comes of this.
This is certainly not a perfect plan but there are smart folks who could make this into something useful. Conduct a REAL evaluation and feasibility study as opposed to some clueless rider with a notebook shoved in his belt to look cool who is a typical rider, movies, meals, laptop and rack.
© 2009-2022 John A. Mason