thedrifter
03-06-03, 07:47 AM
Navy, Marine Corps Leaders to Congress: We Are Ready
By Chief Journalist Walter T. Ham IV
Navy News Service
March 3, 2003
WASHINGTON -- When the top leaders from the Navy and Marine Corps recently testified on Capitol Hill, their message to Congress was loud and clear: their team is combat ready.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hansford T. Johnson, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee testified before the House Armed Services Committee during the Department of the Navy posture hearing recently.
"Today, approximately 60 percent of our ships are underway, including six deployed carrier battle groups, and 63 percent of our Marine operating forces are forward deployed," Johnson said. "Our Navy Marine Corps team is well trained, highly motivated, and ready to meet the call from our nation."
The CNO said retention and manning successes have enabled the Navy to "surge" forces to where they’re needed, and he thanked the Congress for the investments they’ve made in readiness.
"Since 1968 when I joined the Navy, I have never seen the Navy as ready as it is today. It’s a capable, persistent, combat force. It represents the return on investment that you in the Congress, speaking for the American people, have made in our readiness. And we are grateful," Clark said.
"I also want to thank you for the exceptional support that you have provided to our Sailors, our most cherished resource, the brave men and women that we call upon in this country to represent us and the values that we believe in," Clark added.
Hagee told the representatives about some of the Navy Marine Corp team’s many deployments around the world in support of the global war on terrorism.
"Along with our sister services, the Navy-Marine Corps team continues to play a key role in the global war on terrorism and in the establishment of stability and security in many of the world’s trouble spots," Hagee said. "Marines, both active and Reserve, are operating side-by-side with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, NGOs (non-government organizations), diplomats and many others, in diverse locations from Afghanistan, to the Arabian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, Turkey, the Georgian Republic, Colombia, Guantanamo Bay and the Philippines."
Johnson thanked the Congress for its continued support of the Navy Marine Corps team and the families who support it.
"The Navy Marine Corps team’s successes reflect the strong and sustained support by the Congress, as well as those on the homefront, our dedicated civilian (and) contract employees and the great American mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and children who support the forward deployed defenders of freedom," he said. "We’re eternally grateful for all the hard work and sacrifices they and all of our supporters are making."
The CNO said that the Navy Marine Corps team is ready to respond, if called.
"Your Navy, the nation’s Navy, is ready. It is combat ready. It is forward deployed. It is on scene," Clark said. "The young men and women in your nation’s Navy are serving with great distinction."
Sempers,
Roger
By Chief Journalist Walter T. Ham IV
Navy News Service
March 3, 2003
WASHINGTON -- When the top leaders from the Navy and Marine Corps recently testified on Capitol Hill, their message to Congress was loud and clear: their team is combat ready.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hansford T. Johnson, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee testified before the House Armed Services Committee during the Department of the Navy posture hearing recently.
"Today, approximately 60 percent of our ships are underway, including six deployed carrier battle groups, and 63 percent of our Marine operating forces are forward deployed," Johnson said. "Our Navy Marine Corps team is well trained, highly motivated, and ready to meet the call from our nation."
The CNO said retention and manning successes have enabled the Navy to "surge" forces to where they’re needed, and he thanked the Congress for the investments they’ve made in readiness.
"Since 1968 when I joined the Navy, I have never seen the Navy as ready as it is today. It’s a capable, persistent, combat force. It represents the return on investment that you in the Congress, speaking for the American people, have made in our readiness. And we are grateful," Clark said.
"I also want to thank you for the exceptional support that you have provided to our Sailors, our most cherished resource, the brave men and women that we call upon in this country to represent us and the values that we believe in," Clark added.
Hagee told the representatives about some of the Navy Marine Corp team’s many deployments around the world in support of the global war on terrorism.
"Along with our sister services, the Navy-Marine Corps team continues to play a key role in the global war on terrorism and in the establishment of stability and security in many of the world’s trouble spots," Hagee said. "Marines, both active and Reserve, are operating side-by-side with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, NGOs (non-government organizations), diplomats and many others, in diverse locations from Afghanistan, to the Arabian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, Turkey, the Georgian Republic, Colombia, Guantanamo Bay and the Philippines."
Johnson thanked the Congress for its continued support of the Navy Marine Corps team and the families who support it.
"The Navy Marine Corps team’s successes reflect the strong and sustained support by the Congress, as well as those on the homefront, our dedicated civilian (and) contract employees and the great American mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and children who support the forward deployed defenders of freedom," he said. "We’re eternally grateful for all the hard work and sacrifices they and all of our supporters are making."
The CNO said that the Navy Marine Corps team is ready to respond, if called.
"Your Navy, the nation’s Navy, is ready. It is combat ready. It is forward deployed. It is on scene," Clark said. "The young men and women in your nation’s Navy are serving with great distinction."
Sempers,
Roger