Steven Rogers posted on April 01, 2009 00:07
For a moment, think about YOUR world without a telephone or a computer. You would conclude that it would be nearly impossible to connect with anyone.
Years ago, when the telephone was introduced, there were people who doubted it would work; and, more so, there was outright hostility toward its inventors. Around 1878, a Saturday Review reporter said this about the telephone, “The telephone is little better than a toy; it amazes ignorant people for a moment; but it is inferior to the well-established system of air- tubes. What will become of the privacy of life?”
In the early mid-twentieth century, people from all walks of life said it was impossible to land a man on the moon. In the last part of that same century, similar comments of the “impossible” were made about personal and business computers.
My point is that, despite those people who opposed inventions which changed our way of life, we all found that later in life these changes were necessary to keep up with the rest of the world. Imagine what your quality of life would be without the telephone, computer, or automobile, for that matter.
During my tenure as an officer in the United States Navy, I have seen incredible changes in how the Navy does business. We are no longer two Navies, i.e., USN and USNR. Instead, we are now one Navy, working together as a cohesive team of Sailors continuing our mission to preserve our nation’s freedom.
The Navy is no longer “isolated” as a branch of the military doing only “Navy” missions. Through the “Joint Force Concept,” especially in the intelligence field, we support other branches of the military by working with Soldiers, Marines, and others for the common good of the nation.
I remember when the “Joint Force Concept” was being talked about by military personnel all over the world. Many people opposed such a “drastic” change in the way the military did business. “Let the Navy do their thing; let the army do theirs,” etc, etc, was the hue and cry.
Despite opposition to an innovative idea such as a “Joint Force Concept,” the Navy is now working side by side with people from other branches of the military in a more efficient and effective manner.
During the past few months, the Naval Reserve Association has been going through some growing pains. As we entered the 21st century, we began to see changes in the way the United States Navy is doing business.
As a result, a number of Naval Reserve Association leaders had the foresight and vision to develop a plan which would preserve the Naval Reserve Association history and, at the same time, create a 21st century organization which would represent the interest of the entire United States Navy, that organization being the Association of the United States Navy.
Indeed, there has been a voice in opposition to such a change. And that voice has a genuine concern about the history of the Naval Reserve Association and the progress many members have made in supporting the fleet and the men and women of the United States Navy for decades.
In the 1700’s, some of our founding fathers were opposed to changing the name of the United Colonies of America, to the United States of America. These colonists were opposed to such a change because of their genuine and passionate love of country.
I believe those individuals opposed to changing the name of the Naval Reserve Association have that same love and passion for the organization they worked very hard to preserve during their lifetime.
But just like changing United Colonies of America to United States of America, the roots of the Naval Reserve Association will never be uprooted, and its history will always be preserved.
Those of us who are members of the Naval Reserve Association today owe our deep gratitude to the founders and lifetime members, past and present, of this great organization. Without their hard work in meeting the challenges they were confronted with in the past, the United States Navy would not be as strong as it is today.
The rich history of the Naval Reserve Association and the commitment and dedication of the members who founded this great organization and who have brought us to where we are today in meeting the challenges of the 21st century, will never be lost and will always be remembered as the foundation which future generations of Sailors can point to as the beginning of one of the strongest voices for all the men and women serving in the United States Navy – The Association of the United States Navy.