Rear admiral: Navy 'at a crossroads'

FALLON - The U.S. Navy is in the beginning stages of a major transformation.

That is the message Rear Admiral Len Hering delivered to members of Fallon's Navy League this week at NAS Fallon.

A 710-foot-long destroyer manned by fewer than 200 sailors and glides over the ocean at speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour, is just one of the changes that is on the horizon for the Navy, said Hering, who is in charge of the Navy's Southwest Region, which covers all naval installations in California, Nevada and Arizona.

"We are at the crossroads of transforming our Navy and our military forces into a technologically-advanced force that is capable of exploiting the true strength of America, her technology, her innovation and the incredible fortitude and brilliance of those in uniform," said Hering, speaking to about 50 people Wednesday, including community leaders, officers and enlisted personnel gathered at the NAS Fallon Officer's Club.

Hering also talked about Navy recruiting and retention, relations with local communities and the war in Iraq during his speech.

He repeatedly praised the current crop of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines as "the truly great generation," saying they are the reason why much of America isn't suffering from the global War on Terror.

"The individuals in the service today are an amazing group of Americans," said Hering. "They're a cut above the rest."

Hering added that today's military recruits are much better even than those who joined just five years ago.

"The X Generation is gone," he said. "I will tell you that the new generation loves to be part of an organization that has challenge, purpose and provides direction."

The Navy is raising its expectations for military personnel, and is even considering requiring new recruits to have an associate or even a bachelor's degree before they are accepted.

"We are an employer of choice," he said. Hering noted that the 59 percent of Navy personnel are re-enlisting after their first term, which is an all-time high for the organization. He said everything about the way the Navy recruits and retains its people is changing.

"For a very long time we talked a lot about our people, but we never really recognized them as people," he said. "Over the last five years the Navy has made a huge change in the way it looks at its most important resource, the sailor. We treat them differently. We challenge them differently. We choose them differently. We mentor them differently."

The admiral described the all-volunteer force as "a national treasure" and insisted they need to be paid accordingly.

He also thanked the citizens of Fallon for their work to ensure that residential and commercial developments do not encroach on NAS Fallon.

"This place is key to making absolutely certain that we provide this group of young men and women the very best possible opportunities for graduate level education so that they are prepared to execute this nation's calling."

The admiral predicted the War on Terror will last at least another 10 years, and maybe longer.

He blasted critics of the military effort, saying, "Anybody who compares the quagmire of Vietnam with the successes in Iraq needs to wake up." He added that considerable progress has been made in Iraq, including the formation of a 100,000-man Iraqi police force.

"There are a half-million Iraqi citizens who are alive today because our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines put their life on the line to stop the summary execution of Iraqi citizens by Saddam Hussein," said Hering. "Call it what you will; that's a noble cause."