Women to Serve on Subs

"The Pentagon has moved to lift a decades-old policy that prohibits women from serving aboard Navy submarines, part of a gradual reconsideration of women's roles in a military fighting two wars whose front lines can be anywhere. At issue is the end of a policy that kept women from serving aboard the last type of ship off-limits to them. The thinking was that the close quarters aboard subs would make coed service difficult to manage. Defense Secretary Robert Gates notified Congress in a letter signed Friday that the Navy plans to repeal the ban on women aboard subs. Congress has 30 days to weigh in."

The article went on to include comments from two local veteran submariners. Bob Hodge, a 24 year veteran said that he wasn't surprised and that "in terms of job skills, it's not a problem." He went on to say that the living conditions present an obstacle though. "There's no privacy on a sub, except for officers' quarters. When you're jumping out of bed at night for a battle stations drill or a fire drill in your underwear, there's no time for privacy." Jim Paulsen, a 20 year veteran said, "I think it's a bad idea. You're in very close quarters. I think discipline could break down."

I am not saying that every sailor in the submarine service is now going to be guilty of the sin of adultery, inwardly if not outwardly. I am saying that the Navy's latest plans are in defiance with the Manufacturer's Handbook, and as such, are a recipe for disaster. When this gets coupled with the planned repeal of the "Don't ask; Don't tell" policy, it gets even worse. I'm sure we'd agree that not every person who has served in the military has been a paragon of virtue, but at least officially, military and morality have gone hand in hand. This is now being destroyed from the foundation up. "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3) God help us.

Great Article, be sure and click to read the whole thing.