Early last year, the Navy lifted the ban on women serving on submarines. This, of course, was not a popular move by the Navy. Many saw this as a move to promote diversity more than a move to increase national security. Secretary of the Navy Ray Maybus believed it a "great idea and the right thing to do."
Curious how all those Secretary's of the Navy before did exactly the opposite. But, I digress.
Well, the Navy had to identify a group of women who would do well, as there was no room for error in such a historic move. The women were chosen and training began.
Then...oops.
"Three female supply officers were pulled from submarine crews within months of joining the force for allegedly committing fraud prior to checking in at their boats, a Submarine Forces spokeswoman confirmed Friday. These three were among the eight Supply Corps lieutenants that reported to the submarine force, a cadre chosen to be role models for the younger female submariners reporting straight from training to the previously all-male force.
The alleged actions under investigation involve financial misconduct and in no way involved their performance while assigned to their current operational units,” said Submarine Forces spokeswoman Cmdr. Monica Rousselow, who explained the allegations concerned fraudulent travel claims while on temporary assigned duty."
Well, that's interesting. Almost 40% of the hand-selected individuals are already being investigated for fraud before they even report to submarine duty. That large of a group is bound to have a huge implication on the integration of women on submarines, right?
“The three reliefs are a setback for the ongoing integration of the undersea force. But officials characterized the disruption as 'minimal' — pointing out this is not the first time supply lieutenants had been removed from subs — and that the larger effort is still on track. 'Overall, the integration of women onboard submarines continues to progress smoothly and the reassignment of the three Supply Corps officers will have a minimal impact on the integration process,' Rousselow said."
Smoothly? Wow, not exactly the word I would have chosen.
I understand that things happen, and that women will eventually serve honorably in the submarine force. Yet, when a spokeswoman, especially one with the rank of Commander, says that things are going smoothly when, in fact, 40% of your hand-selected recruits are being investigated for fraud, well...
...it makes it so very hard to have confidence in anything further they say. The military is one of the few organizations people still have faith in. Please, let's don't ruin that by trying to whitewash a bad situation.
Curious how all those Secretary's of the Navy before did exactly the opposite. But, I digress.
Well, the Navy had to identify a group of women who would do well, as there was no room for error in such a historic move. The women were chosen and training began.
Then...oops.
"Three female supply officers were pulled from submarine crews within months of joining the force for allegedly committing fraud prior to checking in at their boats, a Submarine Forces spokeswoman confirmed Friday. These three were among the eight Supply Corps lieutenants that reported to the submarine force, a cadre chosen to be role models for the younger female submariners reporting straight from training to the previously all-male force.
The alleged actions under investigation involve financial misconduct and in no way involved their performance while assigned to their current operational units,” said Submarine Forces spokeswoman Cmdr. Monica Rousselow, who explained the allegations concerned fraudulent travel claims while on temporary assigned duty."
Well, that's interesting. Almost 40% of the hand-selected individuals are already being investigated for fraud before they even report to submarine duty. That large of a group is bound to have a huge implication on the integration of women on submarines, right?
“The three reliefs are a setback for the ongoing integration of the undersea force. But officials characterized the disruption as 'minimal' — pointing out this is not the first time supply lieutenants had been removed from subs — and that the larger effort is still on track. 'Overall, the integration of women onboard submarines continues to progress smoothly and the reassignment of the three Supply Corps officers will have a minimal impact on the integration process,' Rousselow said."
Smoothly? Wow, not exactly the word I would have chosen.
I understand that things happen, and that women will eventually serve honorably in the submarine force. Yet, when a spokeswoman, especially one with the rank of Commander, says that things are going smoothly when, in fact, 40% of your hand-selected recruits are being investigated for fraud, well...
...it makes it so very hard to have confidence in anything further they say. The military is one of the few organizations people still have faith in. Please, let's don't ruin that by trying to whitewash a bad situation.
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