Fred Pfeiffer
01-24-05, 01:23 PM
This may be old news here, but I just ran across this.
Semper Fi,
Fred
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N.C. congressman seeks equal billing for Marines
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC(Jan. 21, 2005) -- A name change could soon be in store for the Department of the Navy, as the U. S. Congress prepares to examine the relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps.
North Carolina Third District Congressman Walter B. Jones, introduced House Resolution 34 to the United States House of Representatives, Jan. 4. The bill would rename the Department of the Navy to be the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. Jones’ district includes Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point.
The National Security Act of 1947 identifies the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force as services with legal missions set by the Constitution. The act defines the mission of the Marine Corps as a service trained, organized and equipped for offensive amphibious employment and as a force in readiness.
The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 acknowledged the roles of each service’s commanding officers as equal members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If the Commandant of the Marine Corps carries the same weight as the Chief of Naval Operations, the Corps deserves equal billing with the Navy, according to Jones.
“There isn’t a subordinate relationship between the CNO and CMC,” Jones said. “They are equivalent parts of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and it is time that the Department of the Navy recognizes their equal status.”
The proposal is intended to acknowledge the large role Marines play in the U.S. military, not to alter the relationship of the Navy and Marine Corps, according to Jones.
“This legislation is not about changing the responsibilities of the secretary, reallocating resources between the Navy and Marine Corps or altering the course of the mission at hand,” Jones said. “Rather it is about showing the nation the true meaning of the Department and recognizing the overall importance of the Marine Corps to our national security.”
When Jones takes his argument to the House floor, he will carry an enlarged copy of a Silver Star citation with him. The Silver Star was posthumously awarded to Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, crew chief, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, who was killed in An Nasiriyah, Iraq in 2003. Bitz’s widow gave Jones a copy of the citation, which carries the Department of the Navy flag and ‘Secretary of the Navy’ heading.
“Nothing in the official heading is about the Marine Corps,” Jones said. “I think about his children or any Marine’s children when they read daddy’s orders. Wouldn’t it be nice if it said ‘Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps’ and included the flag of both services?”
The resolution was introduced with the backing of 24 other House representatives, or co-sponsors, and is now undergoing review by the House Armed Services Committee, which Jones has a seat on. South Carolina’s 2nd District (which includes the Tri-Command area) representative Joe Wilson also sits on the House Armed Services Committee. The committee will review the proposal and argument before passing it on to the House representatives to be voted on.
Jones had previously introduced legislation that would change the name of the Navy’s leader to be the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Fleet Reserve Association, a professional military association representing past, present and future sea service members has already endorsed the current resolution.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming support I have received for this change from so many members of our armed forces,” Jones said. “With their backing, I will continue to work diligently to see this bill through the House. I am committed to making the unity between the Navy and Marine Corps a known fact. They have operated as one entity for 229 years. This legislation will ensure the department they share exemplifies that fact.”
While the name change wouldn’t make any impact on leadership, budgets or missions, it would help shine more of the spotlight on the Marine Corps as military service of its own as opposed to a stepchild of the Navy.
“It’s about time,” said Sgt. Maj. Gary J. Rivard, squadron sergeant major, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron.
Semper Fi,
Fred
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N.C. congressman seeks equal billing for Marines
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC(Jan. 21, 2005) -- A name change could soon be in store for the Department of the Navy, as the U. S. Congress prepares to examine the relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps.
North Carolina Third District Congressman Walter B. Jones, introduced House Resolution 34 to the United States House of Representatives, Jan. 4. The bill would rename the Department of the Navy to be the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. Jones’ district includes Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Stations New River and Cherry Point.
The National Security Act of 1947 identifies the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force as services with legal missions set by the Constitution. The act defines the mission of the Marine Corps as a service trained, organized and equipped for offensive amphibious employment and as a force in readiness.
The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 acknowledged the roles of each service’s commanding officers as equal members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If the Commandant of the Marine Corps carries the same weight as the Chief of Naval Operations, the Corps deserves equal billing with the Navy, according to Jones.
“There isn’t a subordinate relationship between the CNO and CMC,” Jones said. “They are equivalent parts of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and it is time that the Department of the Navy recognizes their equal status.”
The proposal is intended to acknowledge the large role Marines play in the U.S. military, not to alter the relationship of the Navy and Marine Corps, according to Jones.
“This legislation is not about changing the responsibilities of the secretary, reallocating resources between the Navy and Marine Corps or altering the course of the mission at hand,” Jones said. “Rather it is about showing the nation the true meaning of the Department and recognizing the overall importance of the Marine Corps to our national security.”
When Jones takes his argument to the House floor, he will carry an enlarged copy of a Silver Star citation with him. The Silver Star was posthumously awarded to Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, crew chief, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, who was killed in An Nasiriyah, Iraq in 2003. Bitz’s widow gave Jones a copy of the citation, which carries the Department of the Navy flag and ‘Secretary of the Navy’ heading.
“Nothing in the official heading is about the Marine Corps,” Jones said. “I think about his children or any Marine’s children when they read daddy’s orders. Wouldn’t it be nice if it said ‘Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps’ and included the flag of both services?”
The resolution was introduced with the backing of 24 other House representatives, or co-sponsors, and is now undergoing review by the House Armed Services Committee, which Jones has a seat on. South Carolina’s 2nd District (which includes the Tri-Command area) representative Joe Wilson also sits on the House Armed Services Committee. The committee will review the proposal and argument before passing it on to the House representatives to be voted on.
Jones had previously introduced legislation that would change the name of the Navy’s leader to be the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Fleet Reserve Association, a professional military association representing past, present and future sea service members has already endorsed the current resolution.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming support I have received for this change from so many members of our armed forces,” Jones said. “With their backing, I will continue to work diligently to see this bill through the House. I am committed to making the unity between the Navy and Marine Corps a known fact. They have operated as one entity for 229 years. This legislation will ensure the department they share exemplifies that fact.”
While the name change wouldn’t make any impact on leadership, budgets or missions, it would help shine more of the spotlight on the Marine Corps as military service of its own as opposed to a stepchild of the Navy.
“It’s about time,” said Sgt. Maj. Gary J. Rivard, squadron sergeant major, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron.