Female Submarine Crew Advisability

Attempts by feminist lawyers in the Clinton Administration to assign women aboard navy submarines provoked considerable response and nearly all of it was negative. For example, a Connecticut newspaper published a letter from a female graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Patty Marr, who has served at sea and who definitely disagreed with attempts to assign women to submarines. Here are a sampling of excerpts from Marr and others:

Navy Position:
Women are not currently assigned to submarine crews because of the very limited habitability and privacy onboard a submarine. However, women have been on submarines for short durations as civilian technicians for specialized equipment testing, family members for one-day dependent cruises, and female midshipmen conducting two-day orientation cruises. Source:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/submarines/centennial/faqs.html

A Submarine Officer Speaks Frankly:
Having women on a sub would be a bit like having men and women together in prison. Personally, as an officer, I would not have wanted women on my crew, even if the women were better performers.
The first mission of the Navy is to defend the security of the United States. A secondary mission of the Navy is to accomplish the first mission in accordance with the values of the American people in so much as is practical. Sometimes it is not practical. Americans value democracy but democracy is not practical in the Navy. Americans value equal responsibilities for women. Now that the cold war is over (emphasis added) and the threat for which the sub force was built is gone, we might be able to afford putting women on submarines. But it would be expensive and there are many practical problems. Sometimes people bring up the idea of an all female submarine crew. I think this would work but training the first crew would be difficult. On the sub, the captain and a handful of chiefs each had 15 or more years experience on submarines. This experience made operating the ship possible. And this experience is not something that can develop quickly.
Source: http://www.patweb.com/rants/women.cfm

Another Submarine Officer Speaks Thoughtfully:
My recommendation is that if women must be integrated into the force, they come in as senior officers. No one aboard would ever question the authority of the executive officer, who is ten feet tall no matter who he (or she) is. The Navy would do well to take a few dozen surface ship female officers who have the best fitness reports and train them in submarines. Then put them to work as nuclear submarine navigators and watch them. My prediction is that half will fail, but the half who succeed will be worth the effort. Once females have "made their bones" as dolphin-wearers, then and only then should females be admitted to the junior officer and enlisted ranks.
Source: http://www.subsim.com/ssr/dimerc3.html

Scientific Observations (females first to use tools):
"In the first case, we had a female crossing a pool; and this female has crossed this pool by using a detached stick and testing the water depth, and trying to use it as a walking stick," he told the BBC. ...They can also learn tool use and transmit their acquired skills to other members of their social group. Hint: Teachers



Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4296606.stm


Phyllis Schlafly Speaks:
Women on subs is a terrible idea. The Navy's highest-ranking admirals are strongly opposed, but the powerful feminists in the Clinton Administration are trying to get their way by executive order. Female sailors of childbearing age would face particular medical risks on submarines. Air in a submarine is constantly recycled and trace elements in the atmosphere, such as carbon monoxide, cannot be filtered out. Such elements are reasonably safe for adults, but toxic for an unborn child.

Patty Marr's letter is worth quoting. "I can speak from experience that `women at sea' is no success story. Average women do not have the upper body strength of the average man.
"I passed all my tests, but I could not lower a submersible pump into a flooded space. Who would you prefer in wartime?
"Pregnancy and sea time are incompatible. If women become pregnant, they must eventually depart the ship. Submarines must have 100 percent crew readiness even in dental health.
"The Navy discriminates against obesity, illness, disability, age, and yes, sex. The military's mission is to effectively fight wars, not be an equal opportunity employer pandering to every special interest group. Should we make submarines handicapped accessible?
"I hope our military commanders have the courage to stand up against the pressure just as they need to in the heat of a battle."
Source: http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2000/aug00/00-08-30.shtml