Navy personnel officials have released the names of 38 enlisted female sailors who will train to be the first cadre of enlisted women to report for duty aboard a U.S. Navy submarine for duty.
One senior chief petty officer, three chiefs and 34 other women in pay grades E-4 through E-6 will now get orders to report to submarine school to begin the process of qualifying in submarines.
The names, listed in NavAdmin 142/15, were released June 22, along with the names of another 69 women listed as alternates, who could be called "if a primary selectee is unable to report as assigned," according to the message.
Applications were requested in January and selections began in April. All selectees will convert to a submarine rating as part of their qualification process.
"These selections are a key milestone in the continued integration of the submarine force," Vice Adm. Bill Moran, chief of naval personnel, said in the message," "These sailors will be assigned to the first two of 18 submarine crews included in the initial integration plan.
This initial cadre of enlisted women will integrate both the ballistic missile submarine Michigan's Blue and Gold crews as part of the initial plan. As yet, officials have not released what other eight guided-missile or ballistic missile subs — 16 crews total — will add women in the years to come.
In January, the Navy announced those follow on crews would be integrated over roughly a five-year period through 2021. Then, starting in 2020, the Navy will begin to select women to begin the integration of Virginia-class fast attack submarines.
Female officers have been assigned to SSGNs and SSBNs since 2011 and started to integrate the fast attack submarine Minnesota last fall and the USS Virginia this spring.
The enlisted women selected will begin to report to Michigan in fiscal 2016. In addition, some of the alternate sailors "may be called upon within 90 days to fill an assignment on USS Michigan if a primary selectee does not pass their submarine physical or are otherwise determined to be ineligible for assignment onboard submarines."
This selection includes women converting into the sub force's non-nuclear ratings. The Navy plans to select nuclear-trained female enlisted starting next spring and expects them to report to the boat starting in late 2016.
"Each Michigan crew will have 2 previous junior staff instructors [from any nuclear rating) and 4 prototype graduates (one from each nuclear rating). Female nuclear power sailors "interested in volunteering for submarine duty should inform their chain of command," the message stated. "In early 2016, the chain of command at each NPTU will develop an application package on each submarine volunteer that will aid in the selections."
Navy officials say another round of selections will be announced soon and selection will done in December 2015 or January 2016.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
