Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 08/23/2004

Dear Sgt. Shaft,  The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) strongly endorses a proposal in the  House version of the FY 2005 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)  to change the title of Secretary of the Navy to Secretary of the Navy  and Marine Corps. Championed by North Carolina Representative Walter B.  Jones (N.C.), this measure would properly elevate the Marine Corps to a  Departmental standing within the Defense establishment commensurate with  the Army, Navy and Air Force. 

The Corps has filled a unique niche in the Nation's history not  duplicated by any of the other armed services. It provides exceptional  and exclusive capabilities in concert with its sister services, in war  and in peace. And the Corps, as the second most senior armed service,  truly deserves the equitable distinction among its sister services in  the U.S. defense structure. 

The appointment of the position of the Commandant of the Marine Corps  as a permanent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was sufficient to  recognize the Corps as an armed service equal to the task of providing  its opinion and recommendations on joint and combined operations with  the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Subsequently, the appointment to the  grade of General and assignment of a Marine as the Assistant Chairman of  the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the appointment of the immediate past Commandant of the  Marine Corps as the NATO commander, and the appointment of a Marine  four-star General to head the U.S. Strategic Command, lends great  credibility to the caliber of men who deserve their own military  department. 

The recent participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom proves further the  Corps merits recognition as a separate armed service with its own  Secretarial department. However, in view of the Navy-Marine Corps' long  tradition of serving side-by-side and the extraordinary expense of  establishing a separate entity, a reasonable solution would be to change  the title of Secretary of the Navy to Secretary of the Navy and Marine  Corps. 

Recognizing the Corps as an equal partner in a new Department of the  Navy and Marine Corps give the Marines the distinction and esteem they  truly deserve. FRA applauds Congressman Jones, one of the staunchest  allies to all men and women serving in uniform, for his leadership on  this proposal, and urges all FY 2005 NDAA conferees to ensure it remains  in the final draft of the legislation. 

Sincerely, 
JOSEPH L. BARNES
National Executive Secretary
Fleet Reserve Association

Dear Joe.
Ditto and hurrah to Congressman Walter Jones who has spearheaded this important initiative. I urge Senator Warner to get off the dime and support the renaming of the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the navy and Marine corps.

Shaft Notes
The Sarge is once again looking forward to joining fellow members of the National Press Club, other media representatives, and guests for Today’s August 23 Club luncheon. This event will feature remarks from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Hagee. I am sure he will pay tribute to our Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and those warriors who have made the supreme sacrifice

General Hagee graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the U.S. Naval War College.

General Hagee's command assignments include: Commanding Officer Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1970); Platoon Commander, Company A and Commanding Officer Headquarters and Service Company (1970-1971); Commanding Officer, Waikele-West Loch Guard Company (1974-1976); Commanding Officer, Pearl Harbor Guard Company (1976-1977); Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1988-1990); Commanding Officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (1992-1993); Commanding General, 1st Marine Division (1998-1999); and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force(2000-2002).

General Hagee's staff assignments include: Communications-Electronics Officer, 1st Marine Air Command and Control Squadron (1971); Assistant Director, Telecommunications School (1972-1974); Training Officer, 3d Marine Division (1977-1978); Electrical Engineering Instructor, U.S. Naval Academy (1978-1981); Head, Officer Plans Section, Headquarters Marine Corps (1982-1986); Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 2d Marine Division (1987-1988); Executive Officer, 8th Marines (1988); Director Humanities and Social Science Division/Marine Corps Representative, U.S. Naval Academy (1990-1992); Liaison Officer to the U.S. Special Envoy to Somalia (1992-1993); Executive Assistant to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (1993-1994); Director, Character Development Division, United States Naval Academy (1994-1995); Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.; Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence (1995-1996); Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters, U.S. European Command (1996-1998); and Director Strategic Plans and Policy, U.S. Pacific Command (1999-2000).

The Sarge commends the Bush Administration for unveiling its latest initiative in the fight against youth drug abuse. – Parent Corps is a new effort dedicated to helping parents prevent drug use by their children.

“We know that parents remain the most important influence on children, particularly when it comes to decisions about drugs,” said John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “The national fight against drug use must be fought on many fronts, and an early and active role by parents in drug prevention is critical to the success of that effort.”

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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