Security requires a strong Navy

I have previously written about the disastrous impact of “sequestration” on our armed forces. Douglas Wissing delves into this topic in his article “RIF Tide” in the December 2014 issue of The American Legion Magazine, which I partially paraphrase in the next paragraph.

After 9/11 we had 570,000 soldiers in the Army, and it may decrease to around 400,000, which will be our smallest Army since before WWII. The Marines will go from 184,000 to 175,000, and the National Guard will lose 43,000 soldiers and the Reserves 20,000. The Air Force will have about 700 fewer aircraft.

Being former Navy enlisted and a Navy officer, I am especially concerned with the state of our Navy. We currently have 286 ships, including 11 carrier battle groups. Sequestration will keep our Navy (with new construction) at 286 ships, but decrease carrier battle groups to 10. Our Naval command estimates we need 300 ships, including 12 carrier battle groups, to effectively project our military power in the world and safeguard our security. Let’s not forget 90% of the world’s trade passes over the oceans.

The scale back of our overseas land bases increases the need for a strong Navy, including carrier battle groups.