US Navy Commissions First Gender-Neutral Submarine USS New Jersey

The Virginia-class submarine is designed to fully integrate male and female sailors with enhanced accommodations for privacy and accessibility.

The USS New Jersey is the first submarine in the US Navy fleet built to be fully gender-integrated.
The vessel includes modifications such as additional doors, washrooms, and lowered valves to accommodate both male and female sailors.
Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher announced that all future nuclear-powered attack and Columbia-class submarines will be designed with gender-neutral accommodations.
The commissioning ceremony took place at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, New Jersey, with key speeches from Navy officials and New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy.
The submarine, which has a crew of nearly 135 personnel, is equipped for a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and special operations.