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Women in the NavyNational Cruise First Barbary War (1803-1805) 1920s Save "Old Ironsides" Campaign Women in the Navy Apprentice Training Squadron USS Constitution in Popular Culture U.S. Naval Academy School Ship Captain John and Mrs. Caroline Gwinn James Sever Collection Ira Dye Collection on Early Seafarers Gunner George Sirian Escaping a British Squadron Commander Charles Stewart Midshipman Pardon Mawney Whipple Gunner John Lord Commander William Bainbridge Purser Thomas J. Chew Battle with HMS Cyane and HMS Levant Marines Commander Isaac Hull Ship Portraits Construction and Launch War of 1812 Souvenirs Battle with HMS Guerriere Medicine Life at Sea Navigation Arms and Armament Battle with HMS JavaWomen in the NavyNational Cruise First Barbary War (1803-1805) 1920s Save "Old Ironsides" Campaign Women in the Navy Apprentice Training Squadron USS Constitution in Popular Culture U.S. Naval Academy School Ship Captain John and Mrs. Caroline Gwinn James Sever Collection Ira Dye Collection on Early Seafarers Gunner George Sirian Escaping a British Squadron Commander Charles Stewart Midshipman Pardon Mawney Whipple Gunner John Lord Commander William Bainbridge Purser Thomas J. Chew Battle with HMS Cyane and HMS Levant Marines Commander Isaac Hull Ship Portraits Construction and Launch War of 1812 Souvenirs Battle with HMS Guerriere Medicine Life at Sea Navigation Arms and Armament Battle with HMS Java
CATEGORY
Women in the Navy
Throughout most of USS Constitution‘s history, women were not permitted to serve in the U.S. Navy. In the midst of World War II, as some women worked as civilian employees in the Boston Navy Yard, others joined the United States Naval Reserve (Women’s Reserve) after the program was authorized by President Roosevelt on July 30, 1942.
More than 40 years later, Yeoman 2nd Class Rosemarie Lanam became the first enlisted woman to join the crew of USS Constitution in 1985 when she was assigned to the ship’s company by Commander Joseph Z. Brown. In 1988, Karin Cranston became the first female sailor to receive orders to USS Constitution. She was joined in 1989 by Bonnie Brooks. These women paved the way for future female sailors to serve aboard USS Constitution.
In 1996, Lieutenant Commander Claire V. Bloom became the first female commissioned officer to serve on Constitution, marking a turning point in the ship’s long history. Almost 20 years later, in 2022, Commander Billie June (BJ) Farrell became the ship’s first female commanding officer. Today, women comprise approximately 30 percent of the ship’s crew.
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