opinion

Navy head: USS Cincinnati part of tradition

Ray Mabus is the secretary of the Navy.

Today I’m visiting Cincinnati to name the Navy’s newest littoral combat ship the USS Cincinnati (LCS 20). An important milestone, a ship’s naming is the first step in bringing it to life, and here it continues the long tradition and strong connection between the people of Cincinnati and our Navy. It is also an opportunity to highlight our strong commitment to increasing the size of our Navy fleet.

The Navy and Marine Corps team offers the best value to advance both our global security and our economic interests in the face of fiscal challenges and increasing array of threats and demands. Uniquely, the Navy and Marine Corps provide presence around the world, around the clock. Maintaining that presence means we can get there faster; stay there longer; bring everything we need with us; and get the job done without needing anyone else’s permission.

Born a maritime nation, America has always known our success depends on an exceptional Navy and Marine Corps. Article One of our Constitution authorizes Congress to “raise” an Army when needed, but to “provide and maintain a Navy.” From the first six frigates to our growing fleet of today, Sailors and Marines have proven the founders’ wisdom. American leaders across the political spectrum have understood the vital significance of sea power.

More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives within 60 miles of the sea; 90 percent of global trade goes by sea; and 95 percent of all voice and data transfer goes under the ocean. Some 38 million American jobs are directly linked to seaborne international trade. For seven decades, the presence of our Navy and Marine Corps has been the primary protector of maintaining open sea lanes and freedom of commerce.

Maintaining our naval presence requires a properly sized and balanced fleet. On September 11, 2001, the Navy’s battle force stood at 316 ships. By 2008, our fleet had declined to 278 ships. In the five years before I became Secretary, Navy contracted for only 27 ships, not enough to stop the slide in the size of the fleet. In my first six years, we contracted for 70 ships, halting and reversing the decline. By the end of the decade, our fleet will once again top 300 ships. Building those ships also provides thousands of high-skilled, good-paying jobs, not just in Navy shipbuilding yards, but for subcontractors in nearly every single state in our nation.

In the face of budgetary uncertainty, I have committed to preserve shipbuilding to the maximum extent possible because cutting ships is the most damaging and least reversible course of action to our security and our economy.

This commitment is the reason for my visit today. Even here in Cincinnati, though seemingly far from ocean, shipbuilding and Navy play a role in the regional economy. Cincinnati is home to the headquarters of GE Aviation, which builds and manages the engines for several of our ships and aircraft. The shelves of your stores are all stocked with “just in time” deliveries from around the globe, and they’re there because the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are present across the world’s oceans, keeping the sea lanes open and ensuring maritime security.

More importantly, we cannot have a strong Navy and Marine Corps without the American people, and I greatly appreciate these opportunities to see first-hand the result of our partnership with a community. USS Cincinnati will soon sail the world’s oceans in defense of our country, and her journey is starting right here.

One of USS Cincinnati’s greatest strengths will be the highly trained, always strong, always faithful United States Sailors and Marines. Around the world, far from their homes and families, they are deployed in defense of America. We truly are America’s “Away Team.” Today the partnership between our men and women in uniform and the people of Cincinnati is playing a vital role in maintaining American seapower and presence around the world.