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of the armed forces to open its doors to women.” (It should ond highest position in the service. These are just a few of the be noted that the ? rst female midshipman arrived at the U.S. many accomplishments of women in the Coast Guard. The

Merchant Marine Academy before the ? rst female cadet ar- path for women, though, has not been even. There have been rived at the US Coast Guard Academy). In November 1975, missteps. Like the other military services and organizations the Commandant approved a new uniform for women in the nationwide, there have been sexual discrimination, sexual ha-

Coast Guard. Edith Head, a celebrated Hollywood fashion rassment, and sexual assaults. Usually, these matters have expert, designed the uniform. been handled in accordance with established procedures, but

On May 24, 1977, the Coast Guard issued a request for fe- there have been exceptions. In 2014, the Coast Guard asked male volunteers to “FILL WOMEN AFLOAT AND LORAN the RAND Corporation to examine sexual assault and sexual

STATION ASSIGNMENTS.” Beginning in late-September harassment in the service. The report stated that an estimated of that year the ? rst of 24 women chosen for a? oat assign- 180 to 390 of the Coast Guard’s 39,000 active duty members ments began reporting on board the CGCs Gallatin and Mor- had experienced one or more sexual assaults in the previous genthau as members of their permanent crew. Twelve wom- year and far more experienced sexual harassment. The report en – two of? cers and 10 enlisted – erved on board each cutter. recommended, among other things, additional prevention and

Janna Lambine became the ? rst woman designated as a enforcement efforts, enhancement of training and instruction-

Coast Guard aviator. She was so designated on March 4, al material, and development of monitoring systems. I would 1977. Viivien Crea became the second when she was desig- further recommend institution of a formal mentoring system nated on April 29, 1977 and Colleen Cain was the third, when with carefully selected mentors at each unit where a female she was designated on June 8, 1979. member reports to a male member in the chain of command.

In August 1978, the Commandant announced that “all In 2019, a House Committee released a report entitled personnel restrictions based solely on sex would be lifted.” ‘Righting the Ship’, examining the handling of allegations of

Thereafter all of? cer career ? elds and enlisted ratings were harassment and bullying at the Coast Guard Academy. The open to women. The next year, LT Beverly Kelley became report found that the Coast Guard failed to conduct prompt, the ? rst female commanding of? cer a? oat in U.S. history thorough, and impartial investigations of such allegations; when she took command of the CGC Cape Newagen and LT hold of? cials accountable for de? cient and incomplete in-

Kay Hartzell became the ? rst female commanding of? cer of vestigations; and take corrective action to address retaliation an isolated duty station when she took command of LORAN against individuals who report harassment and bullying. As

Station Lampedusa, Italy. In 1980, 14 women graduated with the RAND report, the Committee stated that signi? cant from the Coast Guard Academy. In 1983, the of? cial Coast improvements in policies and procedures were needed to en-

Guard policy on women in combat was established. The sure that prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation, and

Coast Guard Chief of Staff, RADM Paul A. Yost, noted, “the resolution of such allegations was necessary to instill faith in men and women on our vessels are trained and function as a the system. A bill has been introduced in the Senate to tackle team. Removal of women during wartime would degrade op- sexual misconduct in the Coast Guard. erational readiness while replacement personnel are trained Such a bill should be unnecessary. Sexual misconduct is and acquire experience.” already illegal by statute and Coast Guard policy. What is

In 1985, Denise Matthews became the ? rst woman to actually needed is strong and visible commitment from all graduate ? rst in her class at the Coast Guard Academy. In levels of command to put a stop to this. The time for throw- 1992, Lane I. McClelland became the ? rst active duty woman ing policy statements over the transom and expecting that since SPARs promoted to the rank of captain and the follow- everyone in the chain of command down to the lowest levels ing year was assigned as Chief Judge of the Coast Guard. will fully comply is long past. If the Coast Guard wants to

In 2000, Vivien Crea became the ? rst woman promoted to fully integrate women into the service, it must ensure by all the Flag corps. The ? rst active-duty Coast Guard women available means that they are treated equally and respected to serve in a combat zone were crew members of USCGC for their contributions.

Boutwell when it served in the Northern-Arabian Gulf in

The Author support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom from January 2003 to June 2003. Also in 2003, LT Holly

Bryant

Harrison became the ? rst Coast Guard woman to command a

Dennis L. Bryant is with Bryant’s cutter in a combat zone. She was also the ? rst Coast Guard

Maritime Consulting, a regular woman to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal. In 2006, Vice contributor to Maritime Reporter &

Admiral Vivien Crea was con? rmed by the Senate as the ? rst

Engineering News. female Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the sec- www.marinelink.com 11

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