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thedrifter
11-22-08, 08:16 AM
CMC visits San Diego, discusses military presence
Written by MC1 Christal A. Ferris, Navy Compass Staff
Friday, 21 November 2008

Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway, spoke in San Diego Nov. 19 about the importance of military presence in San Diego, community concerns over land use by the Marines, and the economic impact of the military on the local community.

Conway spoke to over 300 military, business and community during the San Diego Military Advisory Council monthly breakfast meeting.

“This [San Diego] military presence highlights the importance of what San Diego means to the Navy-Marine Corps team,” he said. “As long as we have the congressional support in Washington, D.C., and the kind of support we have here, we’re here for the long haul.

“San Diego is the number one area in the world in terms of the scope of the military that’s involved here,” the commandant continued. “What’s wonderful about it is that presence is exceedingly well received by the local population.”

This significant military footprint in the San Diego region also benefits the local community. Conway underscored the positive effect the relationship between the military and the city has on the county’s economy. “There are over 375,000 jobs associated with the military presence here,” he commented. “Twenty-seven percent of all jobs here are associated with DoD.”

Conway also gave the audience an overview of the Marine Corps’ role in national defense today, including involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“The fact is we have become a second land Army,” he said. “We are, for all intents and purposes, losing our expeditionary capabilities. We’ve got to get back some of those training core competencies.”

He outlined the challenges Marines face regarding counter-insurgency forces, training and the expeditionary mindset.

Speaking of the positive changes in the Al-Anbar Province, Conway said “You can still get hurt in Iraq, but it’s not nearly the dangerous place that it was over the past few years,” he said. “Afghanistan is not so encouraging a story. Frankly, I think we’ll be there for awhile.”

He closed his remarks by commending SDMAC for the group’s commitment to support and promote the San Diego military community.

“I think this organization has exercised a great deal of moral courage,” he said. “You have significant impact because you represent a very large capability that resides right here in San Diego. There’s power that’s vested here in your organization.”

Ellie