Rocky C
01-11-16, 10:42 AM
The Navy secretary is urging his admirals to push forward with integrating women into the storied Navy SEAL teams, over the concerns of Navy SEAL leaders.
As Naval Special Warfare hammers out a plan to start admitting women into their tough training, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is urging Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson to forge ahead. Mabus rebutted some of the concerns NSW brass raised about roadblocks to integration.
In the plan it submitted, NSW argued that allowing women to join direct ground combat units would not increase readiness, and could even distract from it, according to the memo obtained by Navy Times.
Other concerns included, "anticipated adjustment of standards, disruption of social cohesion, partnering compatibility, medical concerns, media attention, and longevity and retention of expertise," Mabus wrote in the Jan. 1 memo.
These concerns have been echoed throughout the armed forces as the services have debated opening the last combat positions to women over the past several years.
The Marine Corps made a similar stand this fall, but Mabus and Defense Secretary Ash Carter decided to move forward with the plan.
Despite NSW's concerns, Navy officials have said that the SEALs' and Special Warfare Combat Crewman's rigorous physical standards and training will not change.
Navy SEALs won't change standards for women, admiral says
"Some concerns can be dismissed outright," Mabus said in the memo. "First, there will not be any adjustment of standards. As long as a sailor meets the established operationally relevant, occupation-specific, gender-neutral individual standards, that sailor is qualified to serve."
Second, he added, he expects that leadership will ensure that the integration moves forward to fulfill the policy without detracting from its warfighting priorities.
The Mabus memo also called for the Navy to review all job titles that include "man" for all title, including that for Special Warfare Combat Crewman, a move that sparked widespread criticism online after Navy Times reported it Thursday. This In a separate memo obtained Thursday, Mabus gave the same direction to the Navy at large, sparking widespread criticism from online readers.
Mabus calls for replacing title with gendered terms, "to demonstrate through this language that women are included in these positions."
Navy looks to remove 'man' from all job titles
Going forward, Mabus requested quarterly updates from NSW leaders on their implementation progress.
As Naval Special Warfare hammers out a plan to start admitting women into their tough training, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is urging Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson to forge ahead. Mabus rebutted some of the concerns NSW brass raised about roadblocks to integration.
In the plan it submitted, NSW argued that allowing women to join direct ground combat units would not increase readiness, and could even distract from it, according to the memo obtained by Navy Times.
Other concerns included, "anticipated adjustment of standards, disruption of social cohesion, partnering compatibility, medical concerns, media attention, and longevity and retention of expertise," Mabus wrote in the Jan. 1 memo.
These concerns have been echoed throughout the armed forces as the services have debated opening the last combat positions to women over the past several years.
The Marine Corps made a similar stand this fall, but Mabus and Defense Secretary Ash Carter decided to move forward with the plan.
Despite NSW's concerns, Navy officials have said that the SEALs' and Special Warfare Combat Crewman's rigorous physical standards and training will not change.
Navy SEALs won't change standards for women, admiral says
"Some concerns can be dismissed outright," Mabus said in the memo. "First, there will not be any adjustment of standards. As long as a sailor meets the established operationally relevant, occupation-specific, gender-neutral individual standards, that sailor is qualified to serve."
Second, he added, he expects that leadership will ensure that the integration moves forward to fulfill the policy without detracting from its warfighting priorities.
The Mabus memo also called for the Navy to review all job titles that include "man" for all title, including that for Special Warfare Combat Crewman, a move that sparked widespread criticism online after Navy Times reported it Thursday. This In a separate memo obtained Thursday, Mabus gave the same direction to the Navy at large, sparking widespread criticism from online readers.
Mabus calls for replacing title with gendered terms, "to demonstrate through this language that women are included in these positions."
Navy looks to remove 'man' from all job titles
Going forward, Mabus requested quarterly updates from NSW leaders on their implementation progress.