Women submarines: Pentagon asks Congress to lift ban on women in submarines

WASHINGTON, (KUNA): The Pentagon has said it would move to lift the Navys ban on having women serve aboard submarines. "This is fundamentally a Navy initiative, which they recently briefed to the secretary of defense (Gates), supports it and he notified Congress of the Navy's plans," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said on Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates sent a letter to Congress disclosing the Navys decision on the ban, which if approved by congress within the next 30 days could see female officers serving aboard nuclear submarines within the next 18 months. Testifying in the Senate, Army General George Casey said he thought it was time to re-examine the policy that places restrictions on women in combat roles.

"We don't have an active effort going on, but I think it's time," Casey said.

The United States Navy's currently has a fleet of 71 submarines. If the ban is lifted, the Navy says female officers would be assigned in pairs, and no woman would be alone on a submarine staffed by men. Women would be first assigned to larger submarines that already have separate officers quarters.

Smaller subs would be included as they are overhauled and refitted in the future.

Navy women are allowed to serve on surface ships and have done so since 1993.