Navy Pins 1st Nuclear-Qualified Female Submariners

Navy Pins 1st Nuclear-Qualified Female Submariners
Dec 06, 2012
by Ed Friedrich
Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, Wash.

BANGOR -- The Navy awarded dolphins to the first three women to qualify in submarines Wednesday, including two from Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.

Amber Cowan and Jennifer Noonan joined USS Maine blue crew members James Barclay and John Schaeffer in a pinning ceremony at Deterrent Park. All are junior-grade lieutenants. Another woman, from the USS Wyoming at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., also received dolphins.

The sailors reported to the boat about a year ago after 15 months of Nuclear Power School, prototype training and Submarine Officer Basic Course. Since then, they've been learning their jobs while being pulled to all parts of the boat to perform or observe things. They had to qualify as officer of the deck and engineering officer of the watch, perform damage-control and display leadership.
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