Proactively “From the Sea”; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity.
Policy is never set - it is never agreed. As the global maritime security situation changes, so must the ideas and plans of nations. In the best Western tradition, it is generally accepted that more ideas and more discussion is better in working towards the best solution to any challenge - especially national security challenges. One of the newer additions to the discussion are the writers at the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC). Since they joined the conversation in force in 2012, what is their view of the state of vigorous debate in the maritime security arena? What do they see as the major issues no only on maintaining a healthy culture of "Creative Friction Without Conflict" - and what do they see as the major subjects that naval thinkers need to concentrate on? Today, Sunday June 9th from 5-6pm Eastern, our guest for the full hour will be Lieutenant Scott Cheney-Peters, USNR. Scott is a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy Reserve and government civilian on the OPNAV staff at the Pentagon. Scott is the former editor of Surface Warfare magazine and served aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51). In 2012 Scott founded the CIMSEC, a non-profit think tank/website/group focused on maritime security issues. Scott is a graduate of Georgetown University and the U.S. Naval War College.
Join uslive if you can so you can join with the usual suspects in the chat room and offer up your questions for our guest, but if you miss the show you can always listen to the archive at blogtalkradio.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the next three joint high speed vessels (JHSV) will be named USNS Yuma, USNS Bismarck and USNS Burlington, and two littoral combat ships (LCS) will be named USS Billings and USS Tulsa.
Back that up.
...USNS Bismarck...
One must gain 100#, grow a awesome 'stash, and get a large, grey, great coat before one can receive, "BISMARCK, arriving."
USNS Bismarck (JHSV 9) is the first naval vessel to be named in honor of North Dakota's capital city.
Look at her in action on the right. I don't know about you - but if I were in that landing craft, I would be quite happy about where I was coming ashore. That is good backup - and it also gives you an indication how close to shore she came.
Five Battle Stars and only one casualty through two World Wars, what a lucky ship. She went down serving as well. Here is a nice summary of what must have been an outstanding summer of service; summer of '44;
... Arkansas’ combat experience began during the Allied invasion of Normandy, France. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Arkansas took up a position 4,000 yards off the coast of “Omaha” beach. At 0552 hours, all of the battleship’s 12-inch guns opened fire on the Normandy coastline. During the day, Arkansas was fired on by German shore batteries and was attacked by German aircraft. Fortunately, the Germans scored no hits on the battleship. Over the ensuing days, Arkansas continued providing gunfire support along the French coast. On 25 June, the battleship dueled with German shore batteries off the coast of Cherbourg, France, with the enemy repeatedly straddling the ship but never hitting her. Arkansas’ big guns helped support the Allied attack on Cherbourg, which led to the capture of that vital port the following day. After Cherbourg was secured, Arkansas went to Weymouth, England, for fuel, ammunition, and supplies.
Arkansas left England on 4 July 1944, bound for the Mediterranean. She passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and anchored at Oran, Algeria, on 10 July. Eight days later, Arkansas got underway and reached Taranto, Italy, on 21 July. She remained there until 6 August, and then steamed to Palermo, Sicily, the next day.
On 14 August 1944, Operation “Anvil,” the invasion of the southern French coast between Toulon and Cannes, began. Arkansas provided gunfire support for the initial landings on 15 August and continued her bombardment until 17 August. After making stops at Palermo and Oran, Arkansas returned to the United States.
Every time I peel another layer of the ARKANSAS story, I find out something new. This caught my eye;
US Navy Operation Neptune 1944-06-06 Coast of Normandy On 3 June, Arkansas sailed for the French coast to support the Invasion of Normandy. The ship entered the Baie de la Seine on 6 June, and took up a position 4,000 yd (3,600 m) off "Omaha" beach. At 0552, Arkansas' guns opened fire. During the day, the venerable battleship underwent shore battery fire and air attacks; over ensuing days, she continued her fire support. On 13 June, Arkansas shifted to a position off Grandcamp les Bains. VCS-7, a US Navy Spotter Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire VBs and Seafire IIIs, was one of the units which provided targeting coordinates and fire control. On 25 June, Arkansas dueled with German shore batteries off Cherbourg, the enemy repeatedly straddling the battleship but never hitting her. Her big guns helped support the Allied attack on that key port, and led to the capture of it the following day. Retiring to Weymouth, England, and arriving there at 2220, the battleship shifted to Bangor on 30 June.
...
During 20 days of combat operations, the aviators of VCS-7 were awarded 9 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 6 Air Medals and 5 Gold Stars in lieu of additional Air Medals.
Imagine the pilots of VCS-7, flying float planes when all of a sudden their Skipper comes in and asks, "Hey, how'd you guys like to fly Spitfires?"
While the larger Navy comes to terms with serious funding and structural changes needed to address the future budgetary reality - some people are still building empires. While they are doing that - they are making a mess of our language and culture. Consolidation is good ... but words matter. Perfect example; when someone says "21st Century Sailor" - what do you think of? Well, one would hope that you, like me, would have images of highly trained, motivated and well led men and women doing the best they can as part of a team focused on the seas that surround our nation, and the security that focus brings to the American people ... or sump'n like that. Well, if you do - I guess you're just a fool. No, our Navy seems to have a different vision of its 21st Century Sailor.
RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NAVY'S TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SAILOR OFFICE (N17). 2. N17 IS A NEW DIRECTORATE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE NAVY'S OBJECTIVES FOR SAILOR PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS, PHYSICAL READINESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, SUICIDE PREVENTION, SAPR, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND HAZING PREVENTION POLICY. RDML TED CARTER HAS ASSUMED THE DUTIES AS DIRECTOR, N17 EFFECTIVE 1 JUNE 2013.
So, - we have let N1 take ownership of the brand, "21st Century Sailor." As a result, what image now brings to mind is someone whose family life is a mess, is out of shape, and is a suicidal, substance abusing racist who is inclined to sexually assault someone while hazing them. Yep, great messaging. RDML Carter - one of the last Phantom Phlyers in our Navy with 6,150 flight hours deserves a much better job. I wish you a short cycle on this set of orders - Lord knows I wouldn't wish this job on anyone. Good luck Shipmate. Folks, here is the whole message. Bask in it.
R 041113Z JUN 13 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS QQQQ SUBJ: ESTABLISHMENT OF NAVYS TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SAILOR OFFICE (OPNA V N17) UNCLASSIFIED/ FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N09// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N09// UNCLAS NAVADMIN 153/13 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N09/JUN// SUBJ/ESTABLISHMENT OF NAVY'S TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SAILOR OFFICE (OPNAV N17)// REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/APR 2013// AMPN/REF A IS TASK FORCE RESILIENT FINAL REPORT// PAGE 02 RUEOMFL2573 UNCLAS POC/[redacted], TOM/OPNAV/N17D/TEL: (703)604-[redacted]/DSN: 664 OR EMAIL: THOMAS.[redacted](AT)NAVY.MIL// RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NAVY'S TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SAILOR OFFICE (N17). 2. N17 IS A NEW DIRECTORATE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE NAVY'S OBJECTIVES FOR SAILOR PERSONAL AND FAMILY READINESS, PHYSICAL READINESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, SUICIDE PREVENTION, SAPR, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND HAZING PREVENTION POLICY. RDML TED CARTER HAS ASSUMED THE DUTIES AS DIRECTOR, N17 EFFECTIVE 1 JUNE 2013. 3. SPECIFICS. N17 WILL INITIALLY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BRANCHES: A. TOTAL SAILOR FITNESS BRANCH (N170). N170, PREVIOUSLY N135F, WILL MANAGE THE POLICIES THAT BUILD AND SUSTAIN RESILIENCE IN THE FORCE. N170 WILL BE COMPRISED OF: NAVY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM (NADAP) (N170A); PHYSICAL READINESS (N170B); AND FAMILY READINESS (E.G., COMMUNITY SUPPORT, FAMILY ADVOCACY, EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER, AND RETIRED AFFAIRS POLICIES) (N170C). B. SUICIDE PREVENTION BRANCH (N171). N171, PREVIOUSLY N135H, WILL MANAGE POLICY AND PROGRAMS ENCOMPASSING SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RESILIENCE INITIATIVES. N171 WILL ALSO INVESTIGATE EVENTS, COLLECT DATA, AND PROVIDE LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO INFORM NAVY PAGE 03 RUEOMFL2573 UNCLAS SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS. C. SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE (SAPR) BRANCH (N172). N172, PREVIOUSLY N135S, WILL MANAGE POLICY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS. N172 WILL COORDINATE SAPR INITIATIVES WITH NAVY STAKEHOLDERS ON BEHALF OF N1, NAVY'S SAPR EXECUTIVE AGENT. D. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BRANCH (N173). N173, PREVIOUSLY UNDER N134, WILL MANAGE POLICY FOR PROGRAMS TO PREVENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT (N173A) AND PROMOTE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (N173B). SAPR AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT WILL BE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED TO ENHANCE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS AND INTEGRATION OF THESE PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE COMMAND CLIMATE. E. HAZING PREVENTION BRANCH (N174). N174, PREVIOUSLY N137, WILL TRANSITION TO N17 AS THE LEAD FOR NAVY HAZING POLICY AND TRACKING OF CASES. 4. CASUALTY, MORTUARY AND PRISONER OF WAR/MISSING IN ACTION (POW/MIA) PROGRAMS, PREVIOUSLY N135C, ARE REALIGNED UNDER COMMANDER, NAVY PERSONNEL COMMAND (PERS-1). 5. THE REALIGNMENT BEGINS IN JUNE 2013 AND WILL BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO JANUARY 2014 TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF REFERENCE (A). 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE N17 ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE FOR MORE COORDINATED AND STREAMLINED EFFORTS IN SAILOR RESILIENCY AND READINESS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR NAVY. 7. VICE CHIEF SENDS.// BT NNNN
As a final note - it is still lame to have to "INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC" yourself.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s top national security adviser Tom Donilon is resigning and will be replaced by Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. who has been a lightning rod for Republican criticism over faulty explanations for the attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya.
Donilon has been a key foreign policy adviser to President Barack Obama. But the 58-year-old had been expected to depart sometime this year, with Rice seen as the likely candidate to replace him. Her selection is sure to anger congressional Republicans, who have accused the administration of inconsistency and a cover-up in the Benghazi attacks.
Rice, a close Obama confidante, came under withering criticism from Republicans as part of the investigations into the deadly attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi. Relying on talking points from the intelligence community, Rice said in television interviews that the attacks were likely spontaneous, which was later proven incorrect.
I've never been a big fan of Donilon, but the Rice selection sends the wrong message. It looks like political loyalty is the highest factor, and that is just not what the nation needs as the National Security Advisor.
Congress will take a close look at the Pentagon’s $34 billion Littoral Combat Ship program and may consider restrictions on the Navy’s $2 billion request to buy four vessels in fiscal 2014, Representative Randy Forbes said.
Forbes, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s seapower panel, said today that any decisions would await the final report from an LCS review by the Government Accountability Office. A draft of the GAO study said Congress should consider slowing the program’s funding because the Navy is buying ships faster than it can test their design and performance.
That last bit hints on one of the many primary flaws with LCS - it simply is all based on hope, the perfection of foresight, and a negation by will of technology risk. That isn't a proven record of success, and it is an important lesson for future programs. OHP, SPRU, and TICO were imperfect programs, but the balance of their systems were proven when they got underway underway. Aegis was buggy at the start - but at least TICO had two 5" guns that worked, LWT that functioned, etc ... etc ... etc.
LCS? A void where NLOS used to be, and 57mm and 30mm guns that are still not ready for war at sea. The mission modules? Child please. More promises. SPRU was designed to grow in to her open spaces - not degrade with each bolt on. As for OHP in her time - her record stands on its own.
Forbes said he’s not prepared to act based on the draft, which the Navy is reviewing. When the final report is published, he said, “we are going to take some action.” Any definitive congressional action is probably months away, he said.
Forbes’s seapower panel approved the Navy’s fiscal 2014 request for four ships on May 21, before the GAO draft said the Navy is buying vessels before it’s completed “technical studies that raise fundamental questions” about the ship.
Actions? Hmmmm ... something tells me we are going to move south again. For a maritime blogger - LCS: the gift that keeps on giving.
Hmmmmm .... I like the intent, but let's see what comes out the other end. Here - I have an idea as an ice breaker: we will no longer have Commands be asked to produce awards packages for any awards offered by outside entities, i.e. the annual Left-Handed Lithuanian-American Lesbian Linehandler of the Year award given by the Association of Naval HR Puffnstuff Fans. Seriously though, why are the nukes getting this tasker? Not that I object - just curious what justifies the distraction from their core (pun intended) competency.
Policy is never set - it is never agreed. As the global maritime security situation changes, so must the ideas and plans of nations.
