CASPER, Wyo. — The USS Wyoming is a Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine that went into commission in 1996.
The U.S. Navy lifted a ban preventing women from serving on submarines in 2010 and the USS Wyoming’s Blue Crew now includes 15 enlisted women, the Navy Office of Community Outreach said in a press release Thursday. Those women recently made history as the first enlisted female crew to complete a ballistic-missile submarine “boomer” deterrent patrol.
Ballistic-missile submarine “boomer” deterrent patrols involve deterring attacks from potential adversaries and last 77 days at sea on average.
The press release states that the enlisted women now serve on four guided-missile submarines and one ballistic-missile submarine in the Navy’s fleet.
“I personally never saw myself being in the submarine force,” Chief Logistics Specialist Samantha Mincey said in the press release. “When I joined, women weren’t allowed on submarines. I never thought women would start being accepted on submarines while I was in the Navy.”
Mincey is the senior enlisted female on the USS Wyoming’s Blue Crew.
“Being the female chief, I love the fact that I have had experiences that can hopefully help strengthen and build the male and female junior Sailors around me,” Mincey said.
While the ban on women serving on submarines was lifted in 2010, it wasn’t until 2011 that female officers were deployed on Navy submarines and it took several more years for the Navy to incorporate enlisted women on submarine crews, according to the release.
Torpedoman’s Mate 3rd Class Kania John joined the Navy in 2018, but did not know at the time that serving on submarines would be an option. She said in the press release that it is an honor to help set the milestone achieved by the USS Wyoming crew.
“As I learn more about women’s history, it brings me so much honor to be a part of this group,” John said. “This is probably one of the greatest things I can be a part of. My children and future grandchildren will be so proud.”
“Although my first boat was challenging, I consider myself successful so far in my career. You have to show up at the right time, in the right uniform and put 100-percent effort into everything you do. Be intentional and you will be successful.”
Sailors who complete a deterrent patrol are authorized to wear a “boomer” pin on their uniforms.
“I was shocked because I didn’t fully understand that there were no other female crews that had been on patrol,” Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 3rd Class Ashley Whitmyer said of receiving her “boomer” pin. “Just to learn that I was one of the few was an amazing honor and a tribute to just how far women have come in the Navy.”
Mincey added: “I remember being young and my mother telling me about the strides women and African Americans had made. I really didn’t understand pushing the bar and breaking barriers like I do now. It’s really just a blessing.”
The USS Wyoming’s Blue Crew has 191 total members, with the 15 enlisted women making up about 8% of the total crew. The submarine also has a separate Gold Crew, with the two crews alternating manning of the submarine.
“We are still the minority and have so much to offer with just who we are,” Mincey said of female enlisted Navy service members. “The work isn’t easy, but at the end of the day, who else can say they have done the things you have?”
The press release states that all future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines and all Virginia-class fast attack submarines will include enlisted women in their crews.