Canada has female Submariner

Female submariner a Canadian first
By Lt(N) Walter Moniz

She's no different than any other sailor, and that's just the way she likes it. Yet 34-year-old Lieutenant (N) Karen Elizabeth O'Connell made history when she became the first female to apply for and be accepted into the Canadian Basic Submarine Qualification (BSQ) course.

Born and raised in St. John's, Nfld., Lt(N) O'Connell has always been drawn to the sea. She first joined the Naval Reserve in 1986 as a Cook, serving in HMCS Cabot. She attained the rank of Petty Officer, 2nd Class before taking her commission as a MARS (Maritime Surface and Sub-surface) officer in 1995, and subsequently conducted a component transfer to the Regular Force the following year. Like all MARS officers, Lt(N) O'Connell conducted her basic MARS training in Esquimalt, B.C. before becoming the first female ever posted to HMCS Montréal in Halifax, N.S.

It was shortly thereafter that Lt(N) O'Connell developed a passion for submarine warfare. "While on the Naval Operations Course, we were given instruction on submarine tactics," she says. "I knew then, long before any announcement that women would be allowed to serve on submarines, that I wanted to work in submarine warfare. She continued to follow her passion, and graduated from the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Director course in October 2000.

While serving as the ASW Director on HMCS Fredericton, one of the first females to serve on that ship, she was deployed on her second NATO tour. "That's when I had my first submarine experience. I was offered an opportunity to embark on a Norwegian submarine, HNoMS Uredd, while it transited from Germany to Norway." While the submarine conducted exercises with the NATO task group, Lt(N) O'Connell gained valuable insight into the tactics employed by submariners, and was instrumental when the submarine conducted a simulated attack on her own ship, HMCS Fredericton.

"The week-long experience on the Uredd put everything into perspective. At that point, I knew beyond a doubt that I wanted to be a submariner." Luckily, Canada had purchased four Victoria-class submarines from the Royal Navy and recently announced women would be allowed to serve on them, an option that would have been impossible with the older Oberon-class submarines. The rest is history.

Lt(N) O'Connell began the BSQ course earlier this year, and will be finished in mid-April. From there, she will take an advanced submarine course, involving work with the submarine trainers and enhancing basic skills.

In August, she will be posted to one of the Victorias to begin a demanding on-the-job training package, after which she will be brought before a review board to determine if her knowledge and skill set, meet the requirements of the submarine community.

Asked whether she has ever reconsidered her decision to join the submarine community, Lt(N) O'Connell was emphatic in her response: "I couldn't be happier. People are very professional and fair right across the board. They don't treat me any differently than anyone else, and I wouldn't have it any other way." Lt(N) O'Connell will be a welcome asset to the submarine community. I know, because having conducted all of my basic training with her, and write this article as a former submariner. Always the groundbreaker, she's a passionate, professional sailor who will do the service proud.