Content Manager posted on August 01, 2009 00:18
August 2009, Navy
by Casey W. Coane
This month, we launch Navy as the official publication of the Association of the United States Navy, hence the cover photo of the launching of USS Freedom, LCS-1. The launching of the first of a fifty-five ship fleet was a milestone for our Navy just as the launching of ausn’s flagship magazine is a major step for the Association.
Those of you familiar with NRA NEWS, and that is most of you today, will see some changes in layout and design – nothing drastic but some changes nonetheless. Over time, there will be more articles on Navy equipment and our integrated forces. Our traditional columns will continue but with a broader all-Navy vision. The point is that for our traditional readers, the things that you have come to expect will still be there as will our legislative agenda.
As a part of our transition from one Association to another with an expanded vision, our feature this month is about the Full-Time Support (FTS) community. This unique group of 11,418 officers and enlisted work in two worlds at the same time, but worlds that are coming closer and closer together. They are a part of the Reserve Component and they are on active duty full time. More and more, they are working side by side with their Active Component brothers and sisters. Among the many recommendations made by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves was one which said that the Navy’s FTS billets should be transitioned to the Active Component. The Navy non-concurred with that recommendation and today is still on record as supporting its RC FTS community. We will keep our eye on where this is headed as Secretary Gates has indicated that DoD will review this recommendation again.
For our part, we believe that the FTS community of professionals belongs in the Association of the United States Navy and not enough are members today. All Navy professionals should be a part of a professional Navy Veterans Service Organization and that is ausn. Our mission is to support the Navy and the Navy’s people––the people who do the mission. There are many in the FTS community and the Active Component who don’t think that they are allowed to be a member of an organization that lobbies Congress. That is not true. Read CAPT Puzon’s column on page 8.
Over the past year, much of this column has been devoted to the change taking place within the Association. That was necessary as there was a lot for our members to digest and things need to be repeated several times before everyone hears the word. One more thought on why ausn: This is the right time for an organization built on the legislative success of its predecessor to be there for all Navy people. That is not to say that the Navy doesn’t take care of its people, but there is only so much the Navy can do within the budget it is given. And once those Navy people retire, the Navy is no longer there to help them. At the same time, our Navy needs a strong veterans organization to be its advocate, to ensure its place in national defense is understood and appreciated on Capitol Hill. ausn standing the watch, for your Navy and you.
As we move forward, we need to turn our attention outward again to the Navy and what lies ahead. That was the focus of this year’s Current Strategy Forum at the Naval War College. Please see our article on page 26.