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Gen Shelton: U.S. Merchant Fleet Serves Vital Purpose
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The American merchant fleet remains essential to U.S. interests, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said April 5. Addressing midshipmen and others at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., General Henry Shelton said the fleet is of "vital national importance," serving commercial interests and defense needs. "In addition to America's commercial interests, which included the movement of more than 2 billion tons of domestic and foreign commerce through U.S. ports last year, our military depends on sealift to move 95 percent of the materiel required for a major theater war," Gen. Shelton said. He noted that, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991, "nearly 9,800 merchant mariners and 200 midshipmen served on merchant ships that helped move 95 percent of the cargo required for our operations." Gen. Shelton added: "Ask any officer from any of the services who had the opportunity to serve on a joint task force in the myriad of hot spots around the globe--just ask any of them if the U.S. merchant marine is important to their operations. You will not only get a 'yes,' but a resounding 'yes, and can we have more?'" The Joint Chiefs and "other leaders in Washington" understand that national security strategy "depends on a vital merchant marine," Gen. Shelton said. He praised the USMMA Class of 2000 for the decision to "bypass the comforts of a normal university to attend one of the most challenging schools in our nation." Kings Point graduates "blend the profession of arms with the profession of the sea," and they are "leaders of integrity," Gen. Shelton said. | |||
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