The Navy League of the United States Holding slide for before the presentation starts Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services I am excited to talk to you about the Navy League of the United states and how it supports America’s sea services, which include the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine. My goal today is to leave you with a greater understanding of our sea services and, in particular, the Merchant Marine, what the Navy League does to support these service members and their families around the world, and how you can help. Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Navy League of the United States Our national security depends on our ability to rapidly respond to crisis The Navy League is dedicated to educating our fellow citizens, especially our elected officials and community leaders, on the importance of maintaining strong, capable and ready maritime forces. With more than 40,000 members in 220 councils worldwide, the Navy League also works to enhance the morale of active-duty personnel and their families. Our Mission: Inform the American public about the importance of our maritime forces to our national security and economic prosperity, and to enhance the morale of active-duty personnel and their families. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Navy League and your Congress For nearly two generations, no American has been obligated to join our military services, and few do. In 1975, 70 percent of the members of Congress had some military service, compared with just 20 percent today. This has created a gap in the knowledge of those who must make critical decisions about our military readiness and capabilities and, in turn, our national security. The grassroots strength of the Navy League’s councils translates into much-needed support of sea service members and their families across America and on Capitol Hill. For example, Navy Leaguers took their message to Congress for the second Navy League Anchors Aweigh Fly-In on Dec. 3, 2015. Members visited their representatives, senators and congressional staffers as constituents, focusing on the economic and strategic necessity of our sea services.  The event was highly successful, with more than 100 Navy Leaguers visiting a total of 136 congressional offices. The Navy League in 2015 also launched the America’s Strength campaign, “Investing in the Navy-Marine Corps Team.” The grassroots effort combines congressional, community and industry outreach aimed at rallying support for the Navy-Marine Corps team and increasing awareness about what the strain of underfunding and overextension will mean for the Department of the Navy in the years ahead. Our Mission: Educate our elected officials on the importance of maintaining strong, capable and ready maritime forces. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Navy League and the youth in your community The Navy League is committed to this nation’s youth, supporting programs that foster the development of our next generation of patriotic citizens and future military leaders. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps is for young people ages 13-17 who have a desire to learn about the sea services. The objectives of the Sea Cadet program are to introduce youths to naval life; develop in them a sense of pride, patriotism, courage and self-reliance; and to maintain an environment free of drugs and gangs. The Navy League Cadet Corps is for boys and girls, ages 11-13, who are interested in the sea and ships, and our nation’s seagoing services. The Navy League program is designed to introduce young people to maritime activities and military life, and to prepare them for the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Our Mission: Foster the education and development of our youth through programs such as the Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps as well as Junior ROTC and Young Marines. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Sea Services and YOU The U.S. Sea Services — Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine — have an impact on the lives of each and every one of us. How? Our security and prosperity at home depend on their ability to sustain freedom of the seas and rapidly respond to crises, whether they be natural or manmade. The sea services strengthen international alliances, ensure access to critical trade routes and promote engagement with friends and competitors alike, through multinational exercises, bilateral operations and humanitarian missions.   Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Maritime Administration Today, Americans rely on a wide range of Merchant Mariner services — from piloting the barge tows that strengthen our domestic energy supply chain to crewing the commercial vessels that allow for overseas projection and sustainment of our armed forces. — Paul “Chip” Jaenichen, Maritime Administrator The Maritime Administration is the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation dealing with waterborne transportation. Its programs promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced U.S. Merchant Marine, sufficient to carry the Nation’s domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of service as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. The Maritime Administration also seeks to ensure that the United States maintains adequate shipbuilding and repair services, efficient ports, effective inter-modal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity for use in times of national emergency. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

U.S. Merchant Marine Leadership The current Maritime Administrator is Paul “Chip” Jaenichen. As the Administrator, he advises and assists the Secretary of Transportation on commercial maritime matters, the U.S. maritime industry, and strategic sea-lift. The Maritime Administrator also maintains liaison with public and private organizations concerned with the U.S. maritime industry. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Role of the U.S. Merchant Marine The U.S. Merchant Marine enables global projection and sustainment of our U.S. Armed Forces by providing assured access to sealift for national and international emergencies supporting both our troops and our allies. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt referred to the U.S. Merchant Marine as “the fourth arm of defense,” and during World War II they suffered a larger casualty rate than any of the other services. Serving the Nation since the Revolutionary War, they continue to serve today, actively supporting the recent U.S. efforts to combat the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and acting as a key asset in the destruction of the Syrian declared chemical weapon stockpile. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Merchant Marine Support to National Security The Maritime Administration maintains a fleet of cargo ships in reserve to provide surge sea-lift during war and national emergencies, and is responsible for disposing of ships in that fleet, as well as other non-combatant Government ships, as they become obsolete. Throughout our nation’s history, U.S. Merchant Fleet vessels have carried critical supplies and equipment to our troops overseas. U.S.-flag vessels carried over 90 percent of Department of Defense waterborne cargoes for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and with today’s rising tide of global conflicts, our continued need for a strong, militarily useful U.S.-flag fleet should be abundantly clear. CLICK TWICE FOR PICTURE OF NS SAVANNAH Additionally, the Maritime Administration owns and maintains the only nuclear-powered commercial cargo ship ever built in the United States, the NS Savannah. Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Navy League Supports the Sea Services The Navy League has councils located throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Far East and the Pacific that support active-duty military personnel and their families. Our councils have adopted or otherwise directly support 530 ships, commands or individual units, and each year present thousands of awards and scholarships to sea service members, members of their families and students, totaling more than $260,000.

Discussion/Questions? For more information, or to get involved: Presenter name and # Upcoming Events … Council Meeting Information PRESENTER NOTE: Remember to bring your membership brochures and business cards Navy League of the United States Citizens in Support of the Sea Services