A Message from The First Sea Lord Sir Mark Stanhope GCB OBE ADC

Over the last 18 months, the Navy Board has been reviewing the current policy that excludes women from serving in submarines, with a view to allowing all personnel with the necessary qualities and attributes the opportunity to serve in the future submarine force. Focusing on our operational requirements, we have considered the implications of the latest medical and legal advice, in conjunction with a comprehensive analysis of all the legal, health, social, technical and financial implications of females serving in submarines; how such a change might best be managed; and with recommendations as to how to proceed. 

As a result of these discussions, I am pleased to report that the Secretary of State has accepted our recommendation that women should be allowed to serve in submarines in the future. This decision provides the Royal Navy with a valuable opportunity to consolidate our position of offering challenging and rewarding opportunities for all those who join us, while maximising the opportunities to meet our challenging future personnel requirements. My primary objective in making this change has been to maintain our operational effectiveness now and in the future.

Female officers will be introduced first into the Vanguard Class, as soon as the policy and practical changes can be made, which is expected to be toward the end of 2013. I would expect this to involve a small number of volunteers commencing submarine training in late 2012. The first female ratings to join a Vanguard Class submarine will be recruited and trained from 2014 to join sometime in 2015. Women - officers and ratings - will also be permitted to serve in Astute Class, but probably not before 2016 due to the need to make the necessary modifications to accommodation and facilities as the Class is introduced in to Service. 

I know and understand that many of you and your families will have questions, ranging from the policy aspects to the practical implications of women serving at sea to why we are making this change at this time. The Command Chain has been provided with detailed briefing, for onward cascade to answer the immediate questions that you may have. In addition, RASM and DRASM will be arranging wider meetings next week for submariners and their families to discuss the issues in greater depth. We will build on this over the coming months as we prepare for the first women to serve in a submarine in two years’ time. This will be overseen by the Multi-Disciplinary Team, including the Naval Families Federation, who will provide a series of opportunities for submariners and their families to meet with them in open forums to discuss the detailed implications of this change in policy.