Women to serve on MSDF destroyers

The Maritime Self-Defense Force has decided to allow female members to assume duties aboard destroyers, ending its current practice of assigning them to ground-based logistic support tasks, MSDF sources said.

The decision constitutes a central pillar of MSDF structural reform measures devised by the committee for fundamental change, which was set up by the MSDF after a series of scandals that rocked the MSDF in recent years--including leaked information concerning an Aegis-equipped destroyer and a collision between an Aegis vessel and a fishing boat.

Most divisions in the MSDF require long tours of duty on board a ship. Mainly for maternity welfare, female members are posted at bases. However, there have been fewer male MSDF applicants recently as the MSDF has become relatively unpopular in comparison with the Ground and Air Self-Defense forces.

Source