Navy Investigating Allegations That Female Submarine Officers Were Secretly Videotaped
Women first began serving aboard submarines three years ago.
— -- The Navy is investigating allegations that a sailor aboard a submarine secretly recorded three female officers while they showered. Female officers only began serving aboard submarines three years ago and guaranteeing their privacy aboard the vessels has always been a major concern.
A Navy official confirmed that the alleged recordings were made aboard the USS Wyoming, a ballistic missile submarine based at Kings Bay, Georgia.
The videos are alleged to show the three female officers while showering or in stages of undress.
The official said an unidentified sailor is under investigation for having made the videos over the past year as well as having allegedly distributed them. The official said the videos had not been posted on the internet. In June, the USS Wyoming returned to Kings Bay from a months-long deployment to the western Pacific.
“The Navy is aware of an allegation of alleged criminal activity onboard USS Wyoming home ported at Kings Bay,” said Lt. Leslie Hubbell, a spokesperson for Submarine Group Ten. “The Navy and NCIS are investigating the matter, and unfortunately further details are not available at this time due to the ongoing investigation. “
Hubbell added, “if the allegations prove to be factual the Navy will ensure individuals are held accountable for their actions."
The investigation was first reported by the Navy Times.
Female Naval officers first began serving in the submarine fleet in 2012 following a deliberate training and development program the Navy developed to select its first 24 female submarine officers. An early focus was on modifying select submarines to ensure their privacy in the tight quarters of submarines that may spend months-long deployments without surfacing.
Since then, more than 40 female officers have served aboard submarines, enlisted female sailors will begin serving aboard submarines in 2016
The Wyoming was one of the first four submarines to be integrated with female officers in 2012.