The first four enlisted women completed the passed through the intensive basic enlisted submarine course in October and, starting next year, women will report for duty to as the first begin integrating into the blue and gold crew of the guided missile submarine Michigan.

The first cadre of 38 enlisted women selected for the program were announced this summer; the second round of selectees will be announced in January. The Michigan is the first sub to integrate get enlisted women and the guided missile sub Florida will follow later that year.integrate enlisted women in 2017.

In October, the Atlantic Fleet's top enlisted submariner said they were still working on the instruction that will govern the integration, revising it down from 49 pages to something more concise — especially when it comes to equal opportunity matters.

"We are revising our instruction that was — no kidding — 49 pages long of excruciating detail on what you wear on the treadmill and how you manage the head," said Force Master Chief Wes Koshoffer at the annual gathering of the Submarine League in Northern Virginia.

"The instruction just ought to read: We will treat each other with dignity and respect because we are professionals. We have a fraternization policy and until we cross those lines, proceed."

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About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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