Article: Women Propelled to More Risky Roles in the U.S. Navy

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Women Propelled to More Risky Roles in the U.S. Navy
http://blog.usnavyseals.com/2011/05/women-propelled-to-more-risky-roles-in-the-u-s-navy.html

Women Propelled to More Risky Roles in the U.S. Navy

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Women Propelled to More Risky Roles in the U.S. Navy

Posted May 31st, 2011 by USNavySeals
Over the past decade, women have been provided with opportunities that have been previously denied them, such as being allowed to serve in submarines. There is, however, a holy grail of sorts that remains unattainable, at least for now: acceptance into the elite Navy SEALs.

A feature in The Washington Post acknowledges that the doors to the Navy SEALs remain closed to women, but suggested that it may slowly be opening. The Post quoted Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who shared that “as a philosophical thing, there shouldn’t be anything that’s closed off as a career.” Despite the fact that there is a ban in place against women serving in combat and infantry roles, an increasing number of women are now serving alongside special operations forces in support roles.

It is interesting to note that Secretary Mabus did not totally rule out the idea that a woman may serve in an elite team such as the SEALs in the future. “We’re going to have to take some careful, well-thought-out steps in that direction,” the Navy Secretary said.

The Post indicated that this was an idea that Mabus shared with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also alluded to the idea late last year.

The fact that the Navy has decided to allow women to serve on submarines may be one of the “careful steps” that is being referred to. Eighteen women have been selected to participate in the program, and eight of them are slated to report to submarines in November as supply corps officers. Lt. Cmdr. Jean Marie Sullivan, chief of the naval personnel’s office of women’s policy, shared: “We are making a concerted effort to not only look at retaining women, but at bringing more women into the Navy.”

Tags: female Navy SEALs, female US military, women navy seals, women US military
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