What say you all? Come on Marty tell us what you think of this idea, good or bad? http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090928/od_nm/us_submarines_women_odd
I served on ships (not subs) that had all male and mixed crews. There was a little bit more drama (18 and 19 year old men and women…) and need for stricter discipline on the mixed. But, not so much as to change the combat effectiveness of the ship, which is the point. On subs, I don’t know, but they’re an odd bunch anyway, I think the way they make air does something to their brains
bad move... it's bad enough stuffed inside the sewar pipe, add the drama of women, and effectivness will suffer.
When i first read this I thought, WTF? i'm old school and do not believe women should be anywhere in combat but in support roles only. I do not qualify a radar tech on a carrier or cruiser as support or any other ships typically in combat roles. This is not even mentioning the distractions they would cause. The quarters are close enough on a carrier let alone a sub. I could just imagine how many SH suits would be filed because some females boobs were brushed while passing another in the passageway. Why make more problems?
Oh, the thought occured! I just wasn't sure I wanted to take it in that direction Ken. I do have an image to uphold!
I must say though, the best senario about women in combat was proposed by Rush Limbaugh. Now I haven't listened to him in about 15 years, but it was brilliant enough to where I never forgot it. It went something like this: First you must know about a phenomenon were, when alot of women live together, they eventually all get on the same "monthly clock". That is, they all begin to have their periods at the same time. No one knows why, but it really happens. Knowing this, Limbaugh proposed having 30 all women platoons, with each platoon menstruating on a different day. This way, on any given day and on a moments notice, you will always be able to call up a platoon of 25-35 really miserable, short fused, irrational, man-hating, PMSing females and send them into action. God help our enemies.
Brilliant, guys, brilliant. I too being old school feel women have no place on board a combat ship. Although I've not seen any figures (no pun) concerning deaths on the flight deck since women were allowed onboard Bird farms my bet would be that its gone up. Its considered the most dangerous place on a surface ship, to which I can attest to as true, having been thru several blow offs (man overboard during air ops) and or night time losses due to walking into propellers. One had darn well better maintain focus and have his head on a swivel. I would think being in a Sub would only make this even more true.
Ron, I apologize for being responsiable for taking your thread so far off topic. It all began at post #6. There is a lesson to be learned here; give liberalism/progressivism an inch and it will take a mile.
I'm with ya, Ron. However, the only exception I may be willing to make is if I were serving on a sub and was allowed to pick the chicks to serve on board!!!
On the upside they would know where they are at all times.... But so would Russia since they would always be surfacing to ask directions. This would give a whole new meaning to hot bunking no?
Thanks Marty. I guess this just goes to show women on subs, while an inviting idea, is the wrong move to make if we want to maintain water tight integrity. And have any subs left, if we need them, of course!
Let me preface by saying I'm not a feminist. I don't a women can do all the same things as men kinda gal. Women are built differently then men, we aren't as physicall strong, etc. I don't think women should hold the same positions in the military as men. But my question is this, if women would be a distraction to men, why is that the woman's fault? Shouldn't the men be professional enough, mature enough, etc for it not to distract them?
I totally agree with the first part, 100%. Besides, I'm old school and down thru history, it's been the job of men to be the protectors of their women and children, yada yada, etc. I don't disagree with the second part since everyone should be and act in a professional manner. But eventually, women would become a distration to men and it is in no way the woman's fault either. It is just a part of nature taking over. there is a lot of truth to the stories you may hear about when a ship pulls into port, there is a mad rush towards the nearest bars to find whatever they can. I remember once when we were deployed on a carrier, we were over 3 months at seas without seeing land, let alone being in any port. Guys were touchy as all get out, testosterone running wild, etc. So, i can imagine what it would be like for some of the submariners on a 9-10 month deployment and not even surfacing the entire time. That just might break the professional will of anoyone.
men in their early twenties.. hormones are flowing.. same with the girls.. not a lot of room on a sub for error. I believe it would be distracting and therefore dangerous. It's tough enough to stuff men into one of those for a patrol, add the females and the rivalry real or imagined for attention and/or favor would be detrimental. Over a hundred men in the 20's, in close quarters with nothing resembling privacy because their is no room for it.. inject woman and hormones would flow. Sailors returning from sea are legendary in their appetites.. inserting a living female into that "tension" and it would be counterproductive. Underway, woman are a frequent.. constant conversation. There are over 147 gagillion ways to screw and I've heard every one of them have their merits discussed pro and con while submerged.