The privilege of leading our brave sailors

On May 4, more than five thousand Sailors and Marines from the PELELIU Strike Group departed for a six-month deployment, saying goodbye to families and friends and joining over 72,000 deployed Sailors, 15,000 of them on the ground in the Middle East, in securing the world’s oceans and supporting global peace and prosperity. Deployments such as this have been part of our Navy since its founding.  They are part of 330,000 Sailors on active duty and 68,000 in the Reserves who are deployed around the world, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a year.  Our Navy is always ready, engaged actively in so many missions that support our national security, responding whenever, wherever and however needed.  The measured and professional response of Sailors during tense situations in the Strait of Hormuz controlled provocative confrontations.  They recently destroyed a failing satellite.  Sailors are building international partnerships through their delivery of training to developing navies, from the Africa Partnership Station off the coast of West Africa to the Global Fleet Station in the Caribbean basin.  They are providing aid and acting as goodwill ambassadors from the decks of USNS MERCY in Southeast Asia and USS BOXER in South America.  They stand ready to deliver disaster relief to the victims of the Burma cyclone.   Whether it is providing fire support to our ground forces, deterring an aggressor with our sovereign warships, assuring access to the sea, or delivering disaster response, our Sailors are the “can do” force; always ready to maintain peace and prevent or win wars.

Our Sailors are making many sacrifices while serving…sacrifices for our nation and for each other.  Recently, Explosive Ordinance Disposalman First Class Dylan Spencer crawled through a mine field leading a medic to a wounded soldier and then carrying another soldier away from an Improvised Explosive Device six feet nearby.  Medal of Honor recipients Lieutenant Michael Murphy and Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their brothers in arms.  Their courageous actions serve to remind that freedom has a price.  While our Sailors continue to make extraordinary contributions on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and elsewhere, their personal sacrifices are not overlooked as we continue to help those who have been wounded and the families of those who have given their lives with the very best care our Nation can provide.  

The contribution and readiness of every Sailor comes at a cost.  Our presence around the globe at all times means long separations for our Sailors and our families.  In paying tribute, we cannot forget the sacrifices they make and the uncertainty they face during long deployments and frequent relocations.  They make these sacrifices without reservation.  Our support to their quality of life through housing, pay, and education, and our support to a quality workplace through top-notch equipment and progressive policies is our covenant with them.  Our Sailors are the future of our nation and our national defense; we must support and prepare them for today and tomorrow.

I have the greatest privilege to lead these distinguished Americans, these “fortunate few” who serve in our Navy.   In tribute today I ask you to join me in remembering, thanking, and striving for excellence in serving the Sailors who are on the oceans, the land, and in the air, protecting our nation and ensuring our prosperity and future.

Roughead is chief of naval operations.