FORT BELVOIR, Virginia –
The U.S. Navy is where it matters, when it matters, the director of logistics for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a celebration of the service’s 240th birthday at the McNamara Headquarters Complex Oct. 13.
“Whether it’s to project power against ISIS today, to keep a persistent presence in the 6th Fleet to support our allies and counter Russian aggression, or to provide humanitarian assistance in the time of need, the U.S. Navy is where it matters and when it matters,” said Navy Vice Adm. William Brown. “We get on station faster, we stay longer and we bring what we need with us. We are a persistent global presence, 24/7, 365 days a year, providing our nation’s leaders with options in times of crisis.”
The Continental Congress passed a resolution to acquire the first two warships for the Continental Navy Oct. 13, 1775. Since then, the U.S. Navy has become the greatest naval force in the world, Brown added.
“We have grown from two warships to a 278-ship fleet. We have the world’s most capable and technologically advanced warships and submarines, and over 3,700 of the most state-of the-art aircraft,” he said.
While the might of America’s Navy is displayed through ships and aircraft, it is sailors’ ingenuity, can-do attitude and fortitude that make the service great, Brown added. The service currently has 320,000 active-duty personnel, 110,000 reservists and more than 195,000 Navy civilian employees.
The event was followed by a traditional cake-cutting ceremony and a performance by the U.S. Navy Drill Team.