Coastal Riverine Billets Opened to Women

Female sailors and officers now can serve in the Navy’s Coastal Riverine Force. The service opened those 267 billets to women March 7. The change complies with the Pentagon’s decision to rescind the 1994 rule that restricted combat billets for women. To date, 13 women have been identified as possible candidates to staff the newly opened billets. They have been assigned to the Portsmouth, Va.-based Coastal Riverine Squadron 2, Delta Company, 1st Platoon to take part in training. Women still are restricted from serving with Special Warfare units, while the Navy and Special Operations Command continue to work on an agreement to open those billets as well.