USCG Mixed Gender Berthing

I'm sure if anybody could pull this off the Coast Guard could. But, ever seen the line to the women's rest room at a concert or NFL game? If cutters have enough single use heads in which the door can be locked then go for it. Otherwise there may be a lot of folks late for breakfast and morning quarters. I had women on my last ship. The Mighty Battle Frigate Bowen went from a FF to a FFT. The T was for training. We became a training ship for reservists and all of a sudden 12 female sailors showed up. We knew they were coming and were somewhat prepared. They slept in Air Det berthing except for the Chief. She slept in a stateroom with the intention of sharing it with a female officer if one came aboard for training. The one first class and E-5 and below got along like any other sailor would in that compartment. The Chief though shared the head in Boys Town with the officers. When she was in the Mess, she would ask one of us to see if anybody was in the head before she walked in.

Most importantly, the need for female Coast Guardsmen to go to sea for advancement purposes is plenty enough reason to pursue this effort.
 
I lived in a mixed gender open squad bay or tent on nearly every deployment. And about 90% of those... I was the one making it mixed gender. I was the lone female for a 10.5 month deployment and at many FOBs. If there was a shower tent I would just wait for the men to be done during at shower hours and then let the Marine water dawg ensure it was empty and then take my shower. It was never an issue. All adults. I am sure this can be worked out too.
 
I don’t like it. I also don’t know how publications can have articles with “a BM I know....”

I couldn’t read anymore after that. Heads on cutters are small and limited, and berthing is isolated and closed. It’s not very similar to the situations found on 87’.

If the Coast Guard is serious about it in the future, berthing will develop around these needs in the cutters of the future.

But that’s not a step toward “Starship Trooper” showers.
 
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NavyHoops said:
I had to laugh at the Starship Troopers part...
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There was a time I would have volunteered for that... but I might have showered in swim trunks while encouraging everyone else to just be confident (creepy, eh?).
 
The Bowen. First to shoot in Beirut. Thanks, brother.
 
Devil Doc said:
I'm sure if anybody could pull this off the Coast Guard could. But, ever seen the line to the women's rest room at a concert or NFL game? If cutters have enough single use heads in which the door can be locked then go for it. Otherwise there may be a lot of folks late for breakfast and morning quarters. I had women on my last ship. The Mighty Battle Frigate Bowen went from a FF to a FFT. The T was for training. We became a training ship for reservists and all of a sudden 12 female sailors showed up. We knew they were coming and were somewhat prepared. They slept in Air Det berthing except for the Chief. She slept in a stateroom with the intention of sharing it with a female officer if one came aboard for training. The one first class and E-5 and below got along like any other sailor would in that compartment. The Chief though shared the head in Boys Town with the officers. When she was in the Mess, she would ask one of us to see if anybody was in the head before she walked in.

Most importantly, the need for female Coast Guardsmen to go to sea for advancement purposes is plenty enough reason to pursue this effort.
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That doesn’t sound like mixed berthing. That sounds like separate berthing.
 
LineInTheSand said:
Devil Doc said:
I'm sure if anybody could pull this off the Coast Guard could. But, ever seen the line to the women's rest room at a concert or NFL game? If cutters have enough single use heads in which the door can be locked then go for it. Otherwise there may be a lot of folks late for breakfast and morning quarters. I had women on my last ship. The Mighty Battle Frigate Bowen went from a FF to a FFT. The T was for training. We became a training ship for reservists and all of a sudden 12 female sailors showed up. We knew they were coming and were somewhat prepared. They slept in Air Det berthing except for the Chief. She slept in a stateroom with the intention of sharing it with a female officer if one came aboard for training. The one first class and E-5 and below got along like any other sailor would in that compartment. The Chief though shared the head in Boys Town with the officers. When she was in the Mess, she would ask one of us to see if anybody was in the head before she walked in.

Most importantly, the need for female Coast Guardsmen to go to sea for advancement purposes is plenty enough reason to pursue this effort.
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That doesn’t sound like mixed berthing. That sounds like separate berthing.
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That’s right. Just told a story about women coming aboard a ship a little bigger than a cutter and how we handled it.
 
THParent said:
The Bowen. First to shoot in Beirut. Thanks, brother.
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I was deployed across the globe in the early 80s when Bowen was on the gun line. She was a bad little shooter. I reported aboard in 90. Made Chief there.
 
LineInTheSand said:
I don’t like it. I also don’t know how publications can have articles with “a BM I know....”

I couldn’t read anymore after that. Heads on cutters are small and limited, and berthing is isolated and closed. It’s not very similar to the situations found on 87’.

If the Coast Guard is serious about it in the future, berthing will develop around these needs in the cutters of the future.

But that’s not a step toward “Starship Trooper” showers.
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I agree with @LineInTheSand, if this is to become reality, the existing smaller cutters (inland especially) will require major shipalts to make this work. It is the head arrangement (they are so small taking a shower u/w is a chore) that prevents dressing and changing in some of the head areas, and would necessitate females and males changing together in berthing. IMHO, not a good idea as sometimes there is only one crew berthing and those off watch would be sleeping while those coming off watch may wish to shower.
 
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