#throwbackthursday
Updated: Mar 15, 2021
In 1978, Congress approved changes in the law that would allow women to serve on support and non-combatant ships - a move that opened the door for women to serve in permanent positions at sea! Naval Services FamilyLine, then Navy WifeLine, covered the momentous occasion of the first women reporting for duty on board 5 different Naval vessels. The Navy continued to open doors to female service members and in 1994 the first women reported for duty onboard a combat ship, the aircraft carrier the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69).
The Silent Service opened to women in 2011 when the first female officers reported for duty aboard a fast attack submarine and this year Captain Amy Bauernschmidt will take command of the mighty warship the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) - the first woman to serve in this capacity! Naval Services FamilyLine wants to say thank you to all the women who have paved the way for others to serve our Navy and Nation in every compacity.