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The U.S. military is first and foremost a warfighting organization, but there is another area where the military in general and the Sea Services in particular can and do play an important role: humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). The logistical capabilities, transportation assets, capital, and durability of the military have made it a go-to for delivering and distributing aid to those in need, especially when the austerity of a post-disaster environment proves too insurmountable a hurdle for civilian aid groups.
Despite this, there are a number of issues with the military’s involvement in HA/DR operations. The military’s acquisition process is an enormous financial drain, which can deflate U.S. aid provisions when funds are directed to the Department of Defense (DoD) itself, as was the case with the nearly $700 million for post-earthquake relief in Haiti.
Obscure Bay Area: Once a sign of military strength, the eerie Suisun ghost fleet has disappeared
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There were once 340 warships.
Standing proud on the water in Suisun Bay, ready to head out and protect the country in a time of national emergency.
But there they sat, unmoved for decades, a floating phalanx on the horizon rusting into the bay, catching passing motorists eye on 680.
The National Defense Reserve Fleet program started in 1946 at the end of World War II. At the time the Navy had a huge surplus of vessels from the war, and Suisun Bay became one of eight places around the coast where the warships were anchored.
(Image MARAD)
For professional maritime training, the 2020 holiday season was bright indeed. In a world clutching for optimism, officials from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) made a series of announcements that will strengthen, expand and intensify America’s maritime academic programs really the maritime industry for at least the next decade, likely much longer. Consider this string of news:
On December 15, MARAD announced cutting steel for the first new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) at Philly Shipyard Inc., in Philadelphia, a critical milestone for the series of purpose-built, state-of-the-art training vessels for America’s state maritime academies, vessels big enough for 600 cadets.