Vice Adm. William Houston signs a “major revision” to the Navy’s gender integration plan, allowing women to serve in all submarine homeports.
The U.S. Navy is set to expand the number of submarine crews that women can serve with, in a move towards greater gender integration. Vice Adm. William Houston, the commander of Naval Submarine Forces, recently signed a “major revision” to the force’s gender integration plan, which will allow females to serve in all submarine homeports. This decision follows the doubling of the number of female officers entering the submarine community in recent years. While the number of female officers has increased, the number of boats with gender-integrated crews has not. This article will explore the Navy’s plans to expand the opportunities for women in submarine crews and the progress made so far.
1: Expanding Opportunities for Female Officers
The Navy’s plan to increase gender integration on submarines includes expanding the number of boats that female officers can serve on from 30 to 40. Currently, the Navy has a total of 69 submarines, including 51 attack subs and 18 Ohio-class ballistic missile and guided-missile submarines. San Diego will host integrated crews by the end of this year, with Guam following suit next year. This move will provide more opportunities for female officers to gain deployment experience and contribute to submarine operations.
2: Increasing Enlisted Female Sailors
On the enlisted side, the Navy plans to increase the number of crews with female sailors from 14 to 20 by 2027. This expansion will involve women serving on eight attack submarines, up from the current two. Previously, female officers were initially assigned only to larger Ohio-class boats, but some pushed to serve on smaller attack submarines. The Navy recognizes the need to accommodate the growing number of enlisted female sailors and is taking steps to ensure their inclusion in submarine crews.
3: Gender-Neutral Submarines
Vice Adm. Houston emphasizes that all submarines are gender-neutral in terms of their capabilities to accommodate women. Currently, there are crews with multiple female officers serving in temporary roles to gain deployment experience. Women can also serve in various roles such as direct support elements, shipyard workers, contractors, squadron staff, and inspection teams. However, the Navy has kept women assigned to certain submarines for berthing purposes, leading to situations where some submarines have more female officers than male officers.
4: Female Officer Retention and Promotion
The Navy has seen positive trends in female officer retention and promotion rates. In many year groups, female officer retention exceeds male retention, and promotion rates are also higher. This highlights the success and dedication of female officers in the submarine community. The Navy is committed to supporting and promoting the career growth of its female officers.
5: Enlisted Female Accessions and Achievements
The number of women enlisting in non-nuclear submarine rates has doubled from 80 in fiscal year 2019 to 160 in fiscal year 2023. This increase reflects the growing interest and opportunities for women in the submarine community. Recently, the first female chief of boat played a significant role in bringing a submarine out of a major maintenance availability, including refueling the sub’s nuclear reactor. The achievements of female enlisted sailors demonstrate their capabilities and contributions to submarine operations.
Conclusion: The U.S. Navy is making significant strides in expanding gender integration in submarine crews. The recent revision to the gender integration plan will allow women to serve in all submarine homeports, increasing the number of boats with gender-integrated crews. This expansion provides more opportunities for female officers and enlisted sailors to contribute to submarine operations and gain valuable experience. The Navy is committed to promoting the retention and career growth of its female personnel, recognizing their achievements and potential. As the submarine community continues to evolve, these efforts towards greater gender integration will shape a more inclusive and diverse force.
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