Wicker: Leading U.S. Navy Revitalization
By. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
The Future Is Bright For Our Struggling Navy
Forty years ago, President Ronald Reagan spoke to the graduating class of the United States Naval Academy. In his remarks, the commander-in-chief committed to giving these graduates the tools they would need to fulfill their national security mission.
The president was honest about the cost and the rewards of investing in the armed forces. He said, “I’ve heard that maintaining the military at peak readiness is too costly.” To that, he replied, “It is too costly for America not to be prepared.”
The ensigns seated before President Reagan understood his words better than most. They knew their service branch, the U.S. Navy, is an expensive enterprise – but that its benefits are worth every penny.
Naval Power Secures Peace and Prosperity
The United States has been blessed with vast oceans to the east and the west. The Atlantic and the Pacific have shielded us from most conflicts abroad, but they have also required us to master them. Throughout our history, brave men and women have risen to that challenge.
The United States Navy has been decisive in wars against tyrants abroad, and it has kept the peace in the aftermath of those conflicts. For decades, our navy has underwritten global maritime commerce, allowing trade to flow in and out of American factories and ports.
President Reagan understood the necessity and potential of American naval capabilities. The Soviet Union was the United States’ greatest threat, and he knew it would respond only to power. The president practiced what he preached to the Naval Academy graduates. He made the costly investment to build the U.S. Navy to a formidable fleet of nearly 600 ships. That strength is a significant reason the Cold War ended.
U.S. Navy Is Ill-Equipped for Today’s Challenges
Today, the United States faces an environment even more alarming than the dangers of President Reagan’s administration. The Soviet Union was an existential threat, but it stood mostly alone in its opposition to the United States. Now, we are up against a band of dictatorships in China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. They have each made individual investments in their military strength, and they have increased their collaboration with one another. In multiple regions of the world, they are seeking to disrupt the American way of life.
Unfortunately, our naval power has decreased as the threats against our country have increased. We have only 287 ships. Just about every major shipbuilding program is behind schedule, over budget, or irreparably off track. We have also seen massive maintenance backlogs and recruiting challenges. Inoperable vessels have languished for years, waiting for repairs. The Navy will have to hit its recruiting goals for the next three years to fill the estimated 20,000 vacancies on our ships.
The Future Is Bright For the U.S. Navy
Congress, industry, and Navy leadership have all contributed to these problems. Many have spilled ink assigning blame, but I am taking steps to revitalize our Navy.
At the end of February, I led a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider President Trump’s choice for Secretary of the Navy. I am optimistic that the nominee, John Phelan, will help us correct the course. Mr. Phelan has extensive experience making organizations efficient and results-oriented – exactly what our Navy needs.
When I spoke with Mr. Phelan, I noted that we should first address the most urgent need – getting shipbuilding back on track. In 2017, I authored and President Trump signed a law requiring the Navy to maintain a 355-ship fleet. We have a lot of work to do. In the shipyards across the country – including in Mississippi – men and women are helping reach that goal. They are building the naval power that can deter our adversaries from moving against the United States.
Note: This item is the weekly Wicker Report column of Sen. Roger Wicker and provided by the Senator’s office.
