Navy to allow women to serve on submarines

[April 29, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. policy banning women from serving on submarines passed quietly into history Thursday morning.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates notified lawmakers in mid-February that the Navy would be lifting the ban -- unless Congress objected.

Navy spokesman Lt. Justin Cole said the deadline for Congress to object passed at midnight without action.

The Navy plans a press conference later Thursday to talk about the new policy that will allow women to serve along side men on submarines.

[Associated Press; By PAULINE JELINEK]

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