ABSTRACT
Chief of Naval Operations James L. Holloway III issued a request for women officers and enlisted personnel to volunteer for sea duty in the event Congress approved a bill permitting women to serve aboard noncombatant ships. After the 1979 Public Law 95-485 was passed, approximately 450 women were assigned to duty aboard five designated ships. This monumental event represented the culmination of a series of policy changes that have continued to expand the role of Navy women since 1972. In addition to expanding the role of Navy women, enactment of several other policies influenced their career opportunities. The legalization of abortion was a societal change that also affected Navy women and their retention. The chapter examines the status of all Navy women who enlisted during the years 1973 through 1977. An important factor m describing the status of Navy women is the transformation of the Navy organization as a whole during the same period.
