Officials: Navy 'Midshipman' Title Will Not Change

Navy officials say they have decided against changing the name "midshipman" because it's a rank, not just a job title.

In January, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus issued a memo to the chief of naval operation seeking an "update of position titles and descriptions to demonstrate through this language that women are included in these positions."

Mabus asked for a review of "the position titles throughout the Navy and ensure that they are gender-integrated....removing 'man' from their titles."

"Midshipman" will not change because it's a rank according to U.S. law, Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Ted Carter said this week. He added that officials only looked at changing the name "very briefly."

More