Thursday, March 1, 2001

By Sandra Jontz
Washington bureau

Sandra Jontz / Stars and Stripes Rear Adm. Joseph Sestak Jr., director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review Support Office, speaks at Tuesday's forum. At left is Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Jones.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s ship program is in trouble and military and industry leaders have called for help.

American voters need to tell Congress the importance of having a strong and well-funded Navy, but first, they might need convincing themselves, said Vice Adm. Dennis V. McGinn, deputy chief of naval operations for warfare requirements and programs, at an American Shipbuilding Association forum Tuesday.

"It is no secret to this group gathered here that we are, in fact, a superpower, that we are a maritime nation," McGinn said, "and that as a superpower that is a maritime nation, we need sea power in the 21st century."

But does the American public know that?

"It is not evident to the rest of the American people," he said. "And I think one of the take-aways from a forum like this is to take away that message."

The history of being a strong maritime nation won’t ensure continued success if there is no commitment from the powers that be for "an investment in this very capital-intensive business of being a maritime power," McGinn said.

Rep. Norman Sisisky, D-Va., one of a handful of Congress members to float in and out of the forum, said he supported the Navy’s efforts to boost spending to build a bigger fleet, but had no idea where Congress could get the money.

"That’s the problem," Sisisky said.

"We want to increase the procurement act and hope to increase the top line, but don’t know from where. Do you cut one program to fund another? We don’t know."

Sandra Jontz / Stars and Stripes William Fricks, left, Chairman and CEO of Newport News Shipbuilding, sits with Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn during Tuesday's forum.

Despite efforts to reduce the cost to build ships and improve technology, there is one thing the military cannot do — place one ship in two places at the same time, said William Fricks, chairman of Newport News Shipbuilding, which builds the Navy’s vessels.

"Simply said, the numbers really do count," he said. "It’s a big world and there are a lot of trouble spots."

To meet all requirements, the Navy needs a 360-ship fleet, up from the current 315, said Rear Adm. Joseph A. Sestak Jr., director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review Support Office. Right now, there are 101 surface combatants, and the Navy wants at least 180 in the coming decades, he said.

Though sheepishly calling for a big financial boost, the three-member panel — which included Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Jones — also took the politically savvy route of ensuring watchful Congressmembers of the services’ efforts to "clean house" and rid the Navy of any wasteful spending.

They declined to mention particular programs that might either be axed or tailored in order to find hidden surpluses of cash.

In developing a war-worthy Navy, leaders must remember to include the services provided by the Marine Corps, Jones said.

"The value of a worldwide forward presence of properly organized, trained and equipped forces is, to our national security, incalculable," Jones said.

Though military leaders are waiting to see Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld’s top-to-bottom review of defense spending, the need for a combat-ready military doesn’t diminish, he said.

Despite the budget uncertainties, keeping the military healthy and funded in the future is essential, Jones said.

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