US Navy to ban smoking on submarines

**Bourne** · 7th April 2010 03:04 AM

History is being made in the Submarine Service. Women are in, tobacco is out.

(April 6) -- One of the most significant changes for the U.S. Navy this decade -- the introduction of women on submarines -- may be overshadowed by a new policy that would ban all smoking aboard subs.

"We're going to stop smoking on submarines," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead said, according to the Navy Times.

The U.S. Navy has decided to allow women to serve on submarines -- but smoking is now banned.

Roughead reportedly discussed the reasons behind the ban at a recent gathering at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.

The smoking ban follows closely the Pentagon's decision to lift the long-standing ban on women serving on submarines, where limited space had been used as arguments in the past for maintaining an all-male crew.

Those same close quarters are now feeding into the thinking behind the smoking ban. The proposed ban appears to be in part a reaction to a not-yet-released study on the health effects of second-hand smoke on submarines.

The smoking ban is hardly a complete surprise. Smoking bans have already been extended in many states to restaurants, workplaces and public buildings. The Defense Department has also considered limiting tobacco use.

A 2009 report on smoking among members of the military advocated for the Defense Department to set a timeline for being tobacco-free. Currently, about a third of active-duty military members smoke.

"That will be a real testy sub when it gets underway," military newspaper Stars & Stripes quoted one submariner about the prospects of a ban. "As a non-smoker, I think it's good, but a ban will just push smokers to use a different form of tobacco."

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/articl...rines/19428651

**Devil505** · 7th April 2010 05:31 AM

Flatulence is still allowed though.

(I think that's what caused this emergency surfacing)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha4X-lQlwNA[/media]

**Pragmatist** · 7th April 2010 05:33 AM

They will still be able to smoke dope if they have a prescription for it won't they?

I'd hate to see the military denying our soldiers proper medical care.

**Devil505** · 7th April 2010 05:46 AM

[quote name='Pragmatist' date='07 April 2010 - 07:33 AM' timestamp='1270640025' post='137162']

They will still be able to smoke dope if they have a prescription for it won't they?

I'd hate to see the military denying our soldiers proper medical care.

[/quote]

Getting back to the main theme here

.....How would you like to be locked up in that steel tube the night after franks & beans was served for dinner?

(hmmmm....With all the burritos & crap the Mexicans eat.....ever wonder why they have no submarine force?)

**Djinn** · 7th April 2010 09:03 AM

Frankly, I'm a little shocked that smoking tobacco was permitted on submarines until now.

**Dr.Knuckles** · 8th April 2010 12:12 PM

[quote name='Djinn' date='07 April 2010 - 08:03 AM' timestamp='1270652610' post='137209']

Frankly, I'm a little shocked that smoking tobacco was permitted on submarines until now.

[/quote]

Amen. What the hell? It's a closed environment surrounded by vital, lifesaving high tech equipment.

What's next, banning campfires in paper houses?

**Chief** · 8th April 2010 12:58 PM

I think they made the right choice. I'll definitely take women over smokes... particularly since I don't smoke.

**HenryPorter** · 8th April 2010 06:03 PM

Having been a member of the surface Navy (USS Providence CLG-6) a light guided missile cruiser I was able to take advantage of opportunities to tour subs during my years in San Diego. I've toured the U505 in Chicago on 3 occasions over the decades also. By far the most austere environment you can have is the U505 and that was a WW2 sub. Trying to imagine a WW1 uboat is a little beyond my ability. I toured a WW2 US sub (name escapes me), saying it was cramped is a generous description of life in the Sub service, that was a commissioned sub at the time (1970ish). I've also toured a nuc in Norfolk back in the 80's. Nuclear subs are pretty roomy by WW2 standards. My hope is to get out to New London and tour the USS Providence SSN 719. The successor to my USS Providence.

The Prov is having a reunion in San Diego this summer. My nursing organization is having its annual meeting in San Diego this summer. Maybe a trip to San Diego is in my future.

I think I would be surprised if Bourne and Steezer hadn't toured the U505. The first time I did that was while on a 12 hour liberty during basic training (Great Lakes). That is such a huge draw in the Chicago area.

Subs are cool, but I could never have served on one, to go out and go under on a day cruise would be one thing, but to go under for weeks at a time, nah.

Oh wow, waxing nostalgic. That smoking thing. Actually its called smoking lamp in the Navy. That was problematic for us smokers during the WestPac cruise during battle station. On subs the lamp would be lit a couble of times a day. I can't speak for the 21st century Navy though. If you were on watch when the lamp was lit, you were just screwed. You didn't smoke. My active duty Army brother has commented that the Army is trying to discourage smoking too. This development regarding subs is only a surprise in that they're just getting around to it.

Go Navy.