Tag Archives: readiness

Training, Spares Already Hurt by Continuing Resolution; Longer CR Would Block Slew of Ship Buys in January

Training, Spares Already Hurt by Continuing Resolution; Longer CR Would Block Slew of Ship Buys in January

The guided missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) leads the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23) in formation during a simulated strait transit as part of Dawn Blitz 2017. US Navy Photo

Lawmakers bought themselves two more weeks to pass a defense spending bill, after extending the continuing resolution that has funded the government since the start of the fiscal year, but the Navy is already seeing decreased readiness as a result of operating under a CR and would face severe procurement challenges if a defense budget isn’t passed by the end of the month. Read More

NAVSEA: Extending Surface Ship Service Lives Could Speed Up 355-Ship Buildup By 10-15 Years

NAVSEA: Extending Surface Ship Service Lives Could Speed Up 355-Ship Buildup By 10-15 Years

The littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) enters dry dock for Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) at San Diego Ship Repair on May 19, 2017. US Navy photo.

The Navy could reach a 355-ship fleet 10 to 15 years faster than current plans allow if it extended the service life of today’s surface ships by five or 10 years each, effectively cutting in half the time it would take to complete the fleet buildup, the commander of Naval Sea Systems Command said today. Read More

VCNO Moran: Navy is Less Ready Because ‘We’re Too Small’

VCNO Moran: Navy is Less Ready Because ‘We’re Too Small’

160917-N-TH560-249 PHILPIPINE SEA (Sept. 17, 2016) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) patrols the Philippine Sea in support of Valiant Shield 2016 (VS16). VS16 is a biennial, U.S.-only, field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the Philippine Sea in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeanette Mullinax/Released)

USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) patrols the Philippine Sea in support of Valiant Shield 2016 (VS16). US Navy Photo

A historically small fleet and a relentless operational tempo are proving the Navy is too small to meet more than its bare minimum requirement around the world, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran told a Senate panel on Wednesday. Read More

VCNO Moran: Navy Will Be 'Just Flat Out Out Of Money' Without Supplemental Funding; Would Cancel Flight Hours, Ship Avails

VCNO Moran: Navy Will Be ‘Just Flat Out Out Of Money’ Without Supplemental Funding; Would Cancel Flight Hours, Ship Avails

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. William Moran delivers remarks at the 2016 Future Strategy Forum at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., US Navy Photo

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. William Moran delivers remarks at the 2016 Future Strategy Forum at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., US Navy Photo

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the re-work required on the recent USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) maintenance availability, due to source error. The ship required seven percent rework and saw a 42 percent growth in work.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Without a readiness-focused supplemental spending bill passed by lawmakers this spring, the Navy and Marine Corps would stop flying at home and ship and submarine maintenance availabilities would be canceled, the vice chief of naval operations and assistant commandant of the Marine Corps said at a hearing today. Read More

VCNO Michelle Howard: Navy Paying Down Readiness Debt Slower Than it Would Like

VCNO Michelle Howard: Navy Paying Down Readiness Debt Slower Than it Would Like

Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Michelle Howard speaks to students and faculty at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in 2015. US Army Photo

Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Michelle Howard speaks to students and faculty at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in 2015. US Army Photo

What it came down to for senior service leaders in a Senate Armed Services Readiness and Management Support subcommittee hearing was having more missions than money, and what resources had to be moved around to pay for current operations. Read More