Woman + Subs

[EM1]

I knew that supply officers on SSNs were DH's... is that true on SSBNs too?

Yes. A bit of a stretch if you ask me, but it is a pretty big program they're expected to run.

As an aside, all the one's I've worked with have been on their second or third sea tour by the time they get to a boat (usually the first tour or two is on a surface ship).

 

[Spekkio]

Not a single chop of the half dozen or so I met in SOBC did a surface tour...it was all suppo school --> DH school ---> SOBC ---> Boat. The chop on our boat is ending his first tour as well.

 

[EM1]

Yeah, my wife just told me that it has changed a little since I left the fleet a few years back. Not sure why that's the policy now, seems like a lot to throw at an Ensign, but you are absolutely correct. I stand corrected on that one

 

[Spekkio]

Didn't intend to call you a liar, just haven't met any SWO to sub chops. I guess this whole woman thing will change that.

In more pressing news, they're getting rid of smoking on subs in the near future...entirely. I don't smoke, but it pisses me off that one of the few pleasures that my Sailors can partake in while working 120 hour weeks is being snatched away from them.

 

[EM1]

That's some crap. We could never smoke on the NR-1 when we were on missions, but that was kind of a special thing I justified like they probably can't smoke on the space shuttle either. The whole sub force though? That will go over well. Women I can handle, no smoking though, that might be another story...

 

[PropAddict]

I remember being shocked to see people smoking when I first went on a sub. It just seems like something you shouldn't be able to do.

The smokers really didn't bother anyone, though. I wonder if some enginerd figured out they could save 3 cents a year on submarine air filters by not sucking all those tars into them. . .

 

[Cleonard19]

The official word from on high is that as of 31DEC2010 there will be no smoking tobacco used on board US Navy submarines underway. There are apparently also some things rolling down the channels about the use of smokeless tobacco most likely involving its use on watch, and outside of a designated area.

 

[bubblehead]

I'm gonna give you a chance to re-phrase this because it may not be what you meant.

Females will not be able to be "spoken to" or "treated" in the same manner as their male counterparts aboard submarines. Submarines are all-male environments and there was a reason that we announced over the 1MC -- before their arrival -- that females would be coming aboard.

I'm not saying they can't "hack it," because they can, however, it will change the all-male dynamic.

 

[squorch2]

*were* all-male environments.

They *were* all-male.

 

[60flyer]

Females will not be able to be "spoken to" or "treated" in the same manner as their male counterparts aboard submarines. Submarines are all-male environments and there was a reason that we announced over the 1MC -- before their arrival -- that females would be coming aboard.

I'm not saying they can't "hack it," because they can, however, it will change the all-male dynamic.

So what exactly is that reason it was announced?

I like to ASSUME that males (regardless of if they serve in a all male environment or not) have observed women in leadership roles before and know how to behave accordingly. This isn't 1980. I hope our sailors are better trained than you're assuming.

 

[Spekkio]

So what exactly is that reason it was announced?

To let the crew know to be more careful when changing in berthing spaces or using the head (ie, shut the hatches), and that they probably shouldn't use the opportunity to tell some of their more colorful jokes.

Females will not be able to be "spoken to" or "treated" in the same manner as their male counterparts aboard submarines.

You mean like you can't feel them up when they walk past you in the p-way?

 

[SkywardET]

The smokers really didn't bother anyone, though. I wonder if some enginerd figured out they could save 3 cents a year on submarine air filters by not sucking all those tars into them. . .

I remember my LCPO recalling how filthy the interior of electronics were when smoking was allowed inside ships. I also remember how the smell traveled from one fan room where someone had lit up during a long GQ to my watch station and the radar rooms and the four array rooms.

I imagine sub filters are, by necessity, extremely good. Their whole ventilation system is different. But smoking affects more than just people.

 

[Spekkio]

But smoking affects more than just people.

Yea, and Sailors have been smoking on submarines for approximately 80 years, perhaps more. Do you have any known instances of electronics breaking down because of cigarette smoke?

 

[EM1]

I can't find the atmosphere control manual from here, but I do know there used to be some verbage in there about how the Navy understands that smoking on submarines my not be the best policy with respect to atmosphere control, but that contaminant levels stay within OSHA 90 day limits when all the atmosphere control systems are up and running. They also state maintaining manning levels becomes challenging when this isn't accomidated.

Close to half my crew smoked on the Wyoming, to include the Captain, Engineer, Weps, EDMC, NOEDA, and about a third of the chief's quarters. This will be a HUGE issue any way you look at it.

 

[Cleonard19]

So what exactly is that reason it was announced?

I like to ASSUME that males (regardless of if they serve in a all male environment or not) have observed women in leadership roles before and know how to behave accordingly. This isn't 1980. I hope our sailors are better trained than you're assuming.

Because not all berthings are attached to a head, and even in the middle of the day, its non uncommon to see someone who was just shoulder deep in a dirty machine rolling through the ship wearing almost nothing. Because sometime maintenance gets down shirtless because its either ditry as shit or hot as shit. Because there's porn taped up in plain site if they were to walk through berthings. Because when in port, there's usually maintenance going on that results in using the berthings as passageways so even if they're not walking around naked, you still have to scoot past them just to get from one end of this ship to the other. Because as it stands now, I can pretty much open my mouth and say anything I want without fear of reproach when I'm on the boat. Because turning a corner and seeing someone reenacting their last conquest is not an uncommon experience.

60, this isn't for you, but more of just a general statement. But please keep in mind that if you haven't spent time on a submarine underway, its not fair for you to speculate on what its like. And if you've been on a boomer underway, recognize that life on a fast boat underway is MUCH different. Every so often people come onto this board, and step out of line, and speak to things aviation related that they neither rate to speak on nor have the experience to speak about. And they get their pee-pee's smacked, as well as they should. However, don't be that guy that does the pee-pee smacking when someone crosses that line on an aviation topic but then comes into this thread and think that just because you've served with women aboard a ship or in a squadron that you have even the vaguest idea of what it'll be like on a submarine.

The biggest problem I see is that we're 360-ish feet long and 36-42 feet wide and the average p-way is just barely wide enough for a grown male to walk through with his shoulders not cocked at an angle. Now take a male and a female with large breasts trying to pass each other going in different directions. Now imagine if that female didn't like that male...