Defense Secretary Robert Gates' declaration to Congress Friday that the Navy plans to allow women to serve on submarines is sparking a lively debate in military circles.In the submarine community, the debate hits close to home.

In the submarine community, the debate hits close to home."As long as they are able to do the job, they will probably be accepted pretty easily," said one naval officer named James, who is assigned to a fast-attack submarine and who declined to give his last name.

"As long as they are able to do the job, they will probably be accepted pretty easily," said one naval officer named James, who is assigned to a fast-attack submarine and who declined to give his last name. "If they can't, then ... " He made a fist and extended his thumb up and over his shoulder.

"If they can't, then ... " He made a fist and extended his thumb up and over his shoulder.James and a fellow submarine officer, Alan, chatted about the Pentagon's decision as they sipped a beer at Hanafin's Public House on State Street.

James and a fellow submarine officer, Alan, chatted about the Pentagon's decision as they sipped a beer at Hanafin's Public House on State Street. Gates notified Congress in a signed letter delivered to the Capitol on Friday. Congress has one month to weigh in on the proposed change.

Gates notified Congress in a signed letter delivered to the Capitol on Friday. Congress has one month to weigh in on the proposed change.Both James and Alan said they have been told that the first women on submarines would be officers and speculated that the respect commanded by officers and their management positions would lend itself to more professional conduct and ensure a smooth transition.

Both James and Alan said they have been told that the first women on submarines would be officers and speculated that the respect commanded by officers and their management positions would lend itself to more professional conduct and ensure a smooth transition."Of course there will be growing pains," Alan said. "But that's true of any change. When it's all said and done, if the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Navy says 'This is what's going to happen,' you do what you're told and you deal with it."

"Of course there will be growing pains," Alan said. "But that's true of any change. When it's all said and done, if the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Navy says 'This is what's going to happen,' you do what you're told and you deal with it." Among submarine veterans, many did not see a reason for the change, but others said it could be worth trying.

Among submarine veterans, many did not see a reason for the change, but others said it could be worth trying. "My feeling is, as long as the Navy can man them with men, you shouldn't go looking for women to man subs," said retired Vice Adm. Kenneth Carr, the former commander of the Atlantic submarine force, who lives in Groton Long Point. "Why spend the money to make all the modifications to the submarines and create all the conversations and arguments?"

"My feeling is, as long as the Navy can man them with men, you shouldn't go looking for women to man subs," said retired Vice Adm. Kenneth Carr, the former commander of the Atlantic submarine force, who lives in Groton Long Point. "Why spend the money to make all the modifications to the submarines and create all the conversations and arguments?"If there were too few male sailors, Carr said he would "reluctantly" accept women on board.

If there were too few male sailors, Carr said he would "reluctantly" accept women on board.The Navy's plan would phase in women's service, beginning with officers aboard the larger subs that are easier to retrofit for coed quarters. Women would never serve alone.

The Navy's plan would phase in women's service, beginning with officers aboard the larger subs that are easier to retrofit for coed quarters. Women would never serve alone.Because of the length of time required for training, it would be more than a year before the first women joined subs, assuming Congress raises no major objections that slow the schedule.

Because of the length of time required for training, it would be more than a year before the first women joined subs, assuming Congress raises no major objections that slow the schedule.Since the mid-1990s, many of the distinctions between who is combat and who is not have been erased.

Since the mid-1990s, many of the distinctions between who is combat and who is not have been erased.Women are formally banned from combat posts in the Army, for instance, but routinely serve in jobs such as medics, pilots and drivers that place them shoulder to shoulder with men serving in "combat" jobs.

Women are formally banned from combat posts in the Army, for instance, but routinely serve in jobs such as medics, pilots and drivers that place them shoulder to shoulder with men serving in "combat" jobs.Al Charette, who served aboard the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, said he worried about the impact to the culture on the submarines.

Al Charette, who served aboard the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, said he worried about the impact to the culture on the submarines."When you get 100 guys together, things are said and done that you wouldn't normally do with females around, both on and off the ship," said Charette, of Mystic. "And I just think with females as part of the crew, the camaraderie between the guys is going to be significantly stifled. In the long term, that will impact everything the crew does."

"When you get 100 guys together, things are said and done that you wouldn't normally do with females around, both on and off the ship," said Charette, of Mystic. "And I just think with females as part of the crew, the camaraderie between the guys is going to be significantly stifled. In the long term, that will impact everything the crew does.""I'm not in favor, not in the slightest," he added.

"I'm not in favor, not in the slightest," he added.Several wives of local submariners have said they are also not comfortable with the idea of women serving alongside their husbands.

Several wives of local submariners have said they are also not comfortable with the idea of women serving alongside their husbands.Jack Kurrus, who served with Charette on the Nautilus, said he is at odds with a lot of his shipmates because he doesn't "envision the massive problem that everybody else does."

Jack Kurrus, who served with Charette on the Nautilus, said he is at odds with a lot of his shipmates because he doesn't "envision the massive problem that everybody else does.""As far as women and men serving together, it's difficult on a submarine, but I don't think there should be any reason to say it's impossible," said Kurrus, who lives in Mystic. "We ought to spend less time flapping about it and verbalizing on it, and just do it. If it doesn't work out, just stop and say it doesn't work."

"As far as women and men serving together, it's difficult on a submarine, but I don't think there should be any reason to say it's impossible," said Kurrus, who lives in Mystic. "We ought to spend less time flapping about it and verbalizing on it, and just do it. If it doesn't work out, just stop and say it doesn't work."Kurrus said women should have the same opportunity he had, and if they want to live on a submarine then "God bless them."

Kurrus said women should have the same opportunity he had, and if they want to live on a submarine then "God bless them." Ray Woolrich, president of the Naval Submarine League Nautilus chapter, called it "fundamentally a very good idea."

Ray Woolrich, president of the Naval Submarine League Nautilus chapter, called it "fundamentally a very good idea.""It's inevitable," said Woolrich, a retired Navy captain who nonetheless was concerned that a woman would go on a deployment unaware that she was pregnant and have to leave the ship and her responsibilities, which would then put more of a burden on the rest of the crew.

"It's inevitable," said Woolrich, a retired Navy captain who nonetheless was concerned that a woman would go on a deployment unaware that she was pregnant and have to leave the ship and her responsibilities, which would then put more of a burden on the rest of the crew.Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said Tuesday that female sailors have shown they can serve and excel alongside men on surface ships, and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, is looking forward to reviewing the Navy's proposal, according to his office.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said Tuesday that female sailors have shown they can serve and excel alongside men on surface ships, and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, is looking forward to reviewing the Navy's proposal, according to his office.Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said he applauded the move to repeal the ban, since women play "a pivotal role in keeping our country safe."

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said he applauded the move to repeal the ban, since women play "a pivotal role in keeping our country safe.""I have no doubt that their presence will only strengthen what is already the world's finest submarine force," Dodd said.

"I have no doubt that their presence will only strengthen what is already the world's finest submarine force," Dodd said.A defense official told The Associated Press that numerous physical changes to submarines would have to be made, but that cadets who graduate from the Naval Academy this year could be among the first Navy women to take submarine posts.

A defense official told The Associated Press that numerous physical changes to submarines would have to be made, but that cadets who graduate from the Naval Academy this year could be among the first Navy women to take submarine posts.The change was first reported by ABC News.

The change was first reported by ABC News.Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told Congress on Tuesday that he supports a reconsideration of women's combat roles.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told Congress on Tuesday that he supports a reconsideration of women's combat roles."I believe it's time that we take a look at what women are actually doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. And then we take a look at our policies," Casey told the Senate Armed Services Committee. While no organized effort is under way, "I think it's time," he added.

"I believe it's time that we take a look at what women are actually doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. And then we take a look at our policies," Casey told the Senate Armed Services Committee. While no organized effort is under way, "I think it's time," he added.

An Associated Press report was included in this story.