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Navy Captain Underscores Importance of Cooperation

By Peter Atkinson, Deputy Editor

The director of the Navy's Strategic Action Group highlighted the cooperation implicit in the U.S. sea services new "Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" during the first floor speaker session at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space (SAS) Exposition March 18.

In his "Cooperative Maritime Strategy - Protecting the Global Commons" presentation, Navy Capt. Dan Cloyd said the "Cooperative Strategy," unveiled by sea service leaders in October, marked the first time in the nation's history that the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps had joined forces in such a fashion. Going forward, he said the sea services would continue to work together, along with international partners, for what he called "the preservation of the global commons," the sea lanes and maritime transit routes through which much of the world's commerce travels.

Noting that preventing war was a central goal of the strategy, Cloyd said international maritime security and humanitarian assistance were two of the core capabilities the U.S. sea services needed to focus on and build upon. He cited the successful deployments by the hospital ships USNS Comfort and Mercy and the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu to South Asia, South and Central America and Africa as steps in the right direction.

He said there would be four more of what he called humanitarian "surges" in the coming year, with the U.S. sea services working in concert with their local counterparts, as well as nongovernmental agencies, aid groups and medical groups around the world.

Officials from each of the U.S. sea services have been presenting "Conversations With The Country" forums across the country since the maritime strategy was issued, and will continue to do so throughout the year.