Be it hereby resolved

Sea Power, Aug 1997 by Hessman, James D

Recommendations for increased funding for all of the U.S. sea services, strengthening of the nation's defense industrial base, equal opportunities for women in the services, and extension of legislation beneficial to the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.

These are among the key declarations of Navy League policy incorporated in the 1997-98 Resolutions adopted on 28 June at the Annual Meeting of Members during the 1997 Navy League National Convention in Boston, Mass. The Resolutions, introduced by Resolutions Committee Chairman Lou Kriser and passed by a unanimous voice vote, also:

- Reaffirm NLUS support for the Navy/USMC "Forward ... From the Sea" strategy.

- Support both the Jones Act-the longtime foundation of U.S. maritime policy-and congressional funding of the maritime security program established by the Maritime Security Act of 1996.

- Encourage funding of both area and theater-wide ballistic/cruise missile defense programs.

- Urge increased Department of Defense (DOD) emphasis on anti-terrorist activities and the use of "military, economic, and political pressure" against nations and individuals "responsible for international acts of terrorism."

- Endorse ratification of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, "as modified by the Part XI (seabed mining) implementing agreement of 1994."

Following, by title, is a summary of the key points spelled out in the 199798 NLUS Resolutions, which are prefaced by an overall policy statement that, because the sea services "can be expected to play an ever-increasing ... role in national security affairs," they

A Global Strategy: The deterrence of nuclear conflict, "or any conflict involving weapons of mass destruction," is the top U.S. defense priority. To carry out that strategy requires: (a) both a national/continental missile defense system and, to protect U.S. and allied forces overseas, mobile, deployable, theater/area-wide ballistic missile defense (TBMD) systems; (b) the continued development and acquisition of technologically advanced command, control, computer, communications, information, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; and (c) a strengthening of the overall U.S. force structure, which as presently planned would be "inadequate in both size and capability."

The U.S. Navy: Forward-deployed Navy and Marine Corps task forces will for the foreseeable future continue to be, in many areas of the world, the first and sometimes only combat-capable forces available to the commander in chief in times of international crises. To ensure the viability of those forces, the Navy League supports: (a) the Joint Chiefs of Staff position that 12 aircraft carriers are the minimum needed to meet U.S. national security requirements; (b) the findings of the nuclear posture review that a sea-based force of at least 14 modern Trident ballistic missile submarines are needed for the deterrence of nuclear conflict; (c) Navy positions on continued and/or increased funding for, among other programs, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter, the LPD-17, CVN-77, and DDG-51 shipbuilding programs, and post-2000 initiatives "to design, develop, and build" a next-generation aircraft carrier, the SC-21 family of surface combatants, and an Aegis TBMD system; and (d) stronger emphasis on the Navy's mine warfare, sealift, oceanographic, and amphibious ship programs, "all of which will be of increased importance to the Navy's future warfighting capabilities."

The U.S. Marine Corps: Combatready, forward-deployed Marine units will for the foreseeable future continue to be the first American forces ordered into areas of potential conflict affecting U.S. interests. Those USMC units therefore must be provided all of the latest state-of-the-art equipment, in sufficient quantity, needed to carry out their mission. The Navy League supports continued and/or accelerated funding for, among other platforms, advanced-capability LPD-17 amphibious ships, the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and joint strike fighter, and advanced amphibious assault vehicles. The League also supports maintaining the active-duty Marine Corps "at its full statutory strength of three infantry divisions, three aircraft wings, and three service support groups."

The U.S. Coast Guard: The world's premier lifesaving service, and an equal partner with the other armed services in time of war, the U.S. Coast Guard carries out a broad spectrum of missions ranging from drug-interdiction and the enforcement of U.S. maritime laws and treaties to the servicing of aids to navigation and the investigation of marine accidents. The Navy League strongly endorses full funding of the Coast Guard's current budget for operations, and major increases in the USCG's acquisition, construction, and improvements budget, which has been seriously underfunded for many years.

The U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine:

The U.S.-flag merchant fleet is essential both to U.S. national defense and to America's economic well-being. The Navy League supports appropriations to fund the maritime security program enacted into law last year, retention of the Jones Act and other legislation designed to strengthen the U.S.-flag fleet and America's maritime industries, and maintenance of the maritime manpower base required to meet U.S. economic and national security needs. The League also endorses, "as a matter of equity," enactment of the Merchant Marine Fairness Act-introduced in the Senate by Majority Leader Trent Lott and in the House by Rep. Lane Evans-to extend to Merchant Marine veterans consideration to the same rights, benefits, and eligibility to veterans' status already available to other veterans.