USS Ohio Among Four Navy Subs Getting Female Officers: Ship's Skipper Was Fired Last Month

Ladies Joining USS Ohio Crew

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The nuclear submarine named for the State of Ohio has been picked to end a tradition as old as the undersea service -- that women can't serve aboard subs due to cramped quarters with male crews.  The thinking was: There is no room for separate bunks and bathrooms, curlers and makeup, bras and panties.  And birds and bees.  But the orders have come down -- make space.  The Navy made the announcement that the Ohio would get three female officers today, a month after the Ohio's captain was relieved of command for "inappropriate personal behavior." Apparently, 56-year-old Capt. Ronald Murray Gero had his mind on a woman other than his wife. Some of his fellow shipmates thought the 36-year veteran was distracted -- he had been an outstanding officer. Here's full text of the Navy's press release about the subs picked to have women in their crews:

"KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729) homeported in Kings Bay, Ga., and USS Maine (SSBN 741) and USS Ohio (SSGN 726) homeported in Bangor, Wash., are the initial four submarines that have been selected to integrate female officers into their crews.  The blue and gold crews of the four submarines will each be assigned three female officers.

"Two of the women will be submarine officers, and the third female officer will be a warfare qualified supply officer.  They will be assigned to their first submarine duty station after completing training, which consists of nuclear power school, prototype training and the Submarine Officer Basic Course. They are expected to report to their assigned submarines beginning December 2011."

Captain of USS Ohio Is Sacked By Navy: Nuke Sub's Skipper Nailed For 'Inappropriate Personal Behavior'

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Navy has been tight with details about its decision to remove the commanding officer of the nuclear-powered guided missile submarine's blue crew. Capt. Ronald Gero was relieved Friday because his bosses lost confidence in the sub skipper's ability to command the 560-foot ship, which is the 5th U.S. Naval vessel to be named after the State of Ohio. The ship was converted from carrying nuclear tipped Trident missiles to conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles after the end of the Cold War. It also carries a complement of Navy SEALS for commando operations. A Navy press release explains only that the skipper was relieved after an investigation into reports of inappropriate personal behavior that have not yet been specified publicly. The Navy said the behavior eroded good order and discipline. Gero is the second high-ranking submarine officer fired this week -- the commander of the Trident Training Facility was removed Tuesday, also for unspecified inappropriate personal behavior. That led to a loss of confidence in Capt. David Solms ability to command. Nothing said so far by the Navy ties the two firings together. Bubbleads, a submariner blog, has more about Solms, and counted up the 13 other Navy commanders who already had been relieved so far this year.

Commenters at the Kitsap Sun, a Scripps newspaper near the USS Ohio's home port near Seattle, suggest numerous reasons for the skippers' ouster: "Plenty of senior officers that I served with could have been relieved for any number of reasons. A few were relieved, but far too few. Many 0-5 and 0-6s attempt to lead by the 'do as I say, not as I do' rule. The usual problems that lead to relief are1. Booze 2. Problems at home that go public 3. Sex with a consenting male or female 4. Sex with a non-consenting male or female 5. Screwed up paperwork or orders given 6. Damaging Navy property - hitting a sea mount not shown on the charts or a grounding 7. Personal conduct, like fighting 8. Booze. I know, I said it twice.' Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/sep/17/second-bangor-commander-relieved-week/#ixzz0ztFMXUko

The Daily Bellwether located a website called navsource.org with a lot of archival information about the USS Ohio. The ship reportedly is manned by 15 officers and 139 enlisted crew members. It spends about 70 days at sea followed by 30 days at dry dock. The blue and gold crews rotate.