Navy League of the United States releases its annual Maritime Policy Statement

Arlington , Va . March 17, 2008 – The Navy League of the United States released its 2008-9 Maritime Policy Statement, Preserving Sea Power: A National Imperative. The annual statement represents the Navy League’s commitment to ensuring that as a maritime nation, continued high priority is given to maintaining a strong national maritime force. This year’s statement sounds an urgent call to “reset” the nation’s maritime services’ personnel and equipment, which are experiencing burn-out as a result of ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and operations that support the War on Terror. The statement identifies critical programs and policies influencing both the operational and materiel readiness of today’s U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine. The document also prescribes current and future force structure levels necessary for the intermediate and long-term readiness of each service.

“Today, the strength of our vital maritime forces is being jeopardized by the financial strains of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the broader Global War on Terror and our enduring security commitments to friends and allies in every corner of the Earth,” said J. Michael McGrath, National President of the Navy League.  “If Americans want to safeguard their futures, protect U.S. citizens and interests across the globe, and maintain our role as leaders in a globalized economy of free nations, it is imperative that we invest wisely NOW, and rebuild and replenish our sea-going services.”

The Policy Statement also outlines the need to revitalize our industrial maritime industry and strengthen the overburdened Marine Transportation System, which is vital to our nation’s economic interests.

Many of these topics will be discussed at the Navy League’s 2008 Sea-Air-Space Exposition that opens tomorrow and runs through Thursday, March 20, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.  The exposition, “Global Maritime Security,” will showcase more than 150 leading defense companies exhibiting weapons and sea power technologies for the 21st century and will feature guest speakers such as Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, Secretary of the  Navy Donald C. Winter, as well as  U.S. Representative Ike Skelton, Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services and Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command.  A series of professional seminars with military leaders and defense corporate partners will provide fresh insights into the needs, challenges and requirements of the Sea Services in support of the long war against terrorists and other national security demands. Copies of the Maritime Policy Statement will be available at the Exposition.

The Exposition is open to military personnel, U.S. government employees, members of congress and their staffs, representatives of foreign embassies and Navy League members at no charge. It is not open to the general public.

The Navy League is a non-profit civilian organization with more than 60,000 members worldwide whose mission for more than 100 years has been to educate the American people and their leaders about the enduring importance of sea power to a maritime nation, and to support the men and women of our sea services.

The Navy League’s annual Maritime Policy Statement is produced by our Maritime Policy and Resolutions Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The analyses and recommendations in the Maritime Policy Statement are derived from multiple sources, including the expertise and decades of experience of our members themselves, open source materials, and public information from the seagoing services. 

The views expressed are those of the Navy League of the United States, and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Maritime Administration. Read the Maritime Policy Statement.

For more information about the Maritime Policy Statement or Sea-Air-Space Exposition, visit www.navyleague.org or contact Janet Mescus, Sr. Dir. of Communications at (703) 312-1557.

Click here for the official Maritime Policy Statement press release.