US Navy, WASHINGTON: Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen released his 2006 Guidance for the Navy Oct. 14. Mullen's guidance outlines his top three priorities, his specific objectives to address those priorities, and what he expects from each sailor to achieve his vision.
He noted that we all live in a new era, which is “plagued by uncertainty and change and unrestricted warfare, an era of shifting global threats and challenging new opportunities,” he said.
Underpinning his guidance – which is rooted in the framework of Sea Power 21 – are his top three priorities; sustained combat readiness, building a fleet for the future and developing 21st Century leaders.
Mullen said that of all the challenges the Navy faces, building the future fleet is the biggest. Specifically, he pointed out that the 2006 budget currently in Congress calls for only four ships, and he is not “anxious to stay there.”
He addressed this and his other two priorities by outlining seven specific objectives ranging from continuing support in the war on terrorism to determining the proper size of the future fleet to continuing executing Sea Warrior and other ongoing manpower and personnel transformational efforts that will help the Navy achieve his “top three.”
The guidance includes 10 “Guiding Principles” – warfighting, people, teamwork, jointness, leadership, accountability and integrity, alignment, risk management, commitment to change and effects-based thinking – that he says must “guide and inform our actions every day.”
“Our success in defense of this nation depends upon the men and women of the United States Navy – active, reserve and civilian, and their families,” Mullen wrote. “Personal and family readiness are vital to combat readiness.” He also pointed out that he doesn't talk about people without talking about diversity, another main focus for Mullen since he assumed duties as CNO in June.
“I believe we have to have people from and for every part of our Navy, and we've done well, but we can do better in my view.”
CNO also stressed the importance of naval teamwork and joint operations. He called the Navy/Marine Corps team a
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