Admiral praises Saipan's warrior spirit - Around the Fleet - RADM J. Kevin Moran, USS SAIPAN - Brief Article

All Hands, Feb, 2002 by Eric S. Dehm, Michael R. Marsh

You are warriors first," and "you're the best." That's the message USS SAIPAN (LHA 2) crewmembers received during an address from RADM J. Kevin Moran, commander of Amphibious Group 2, during a recent visit aboard the general-purpose assault ship. Saipan is undergoing a complex overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va.

After receiving a brief on the overhaul's progress, the highlight of Moran's visit was an "all-hands" assembly. Before speaking to the crew, he presented the enlisted surface warfare specialist pin to three Saipan Sailors, and used the occasion to introduce his next award presentation -- the 2000 Battle Efficiency Award.

"This is a significant accomplishment," Moran said, congratulating the crew. "You beat all the competition."

During its Mediterranean deployment last year, Saipan conducted operations off the Adriatic coast in support of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia elections and participated in a series of ground-breaking exercises with Croatia.

While praising Saipan for its achievements, the admiral warned the crew about the military's worst enemy -- complacency.

"We are the greatest Navy in the world. When you're the best," Moran said, "there's only one way to go, and that's down. The challenge is to stay on top."

To meet that challenge, Moran said the military will have to focus more on anti-terrorism and force protection than in the past. The solution to the terrorist threat against the Navy, he said, is the individual Sailor.

"Every Sailor is an important part of anti-terrorism and force protection. We have made many improvements in these areas in recent years, but there is still much more work ahead;' Moran said.

Moran's final message to Saipan dealt with quality of life and personnel readiness issues. "I know many of you joined up for the college benefits and travel. Those and the other military benefits are great and I expect all of you to take advantage of them."

However, he stressed, every Sailor is a warrior first. "There are not enough people in the fleet, and there never will be, so we've got to work more effectively and efficiently," Moran said. "We are in the warrior profession. We are here to be warriors and fight our country's battles."

Saipan has been in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard since February and is well on its way toward completing the complex overhaul.

The ship is expected to return to its Naval Station Norfolk homeport this spring. For more information about the ships of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, go to www.cnsl.spear.navy.mil