Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Virginia) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) have said the U.S. Navy should launch organizational changes and strategic communication efforts in an effort to address readiness issues, USNI News reported Wednesday.Wittman said Wednesday at the 2018 Surface Navy Association symposium that the service should introduce changes to fleet organization such as reconsideration of the Inouye Amendment and re-establishment of the U.S. 2nd Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia, to help train forces on the East Coast.
His statements came in response to the Navy’s release of a strategic readiness review report and a comprehensive surface fleet assessment related to ship collision incidents in 2017.
Wittman, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, also called for the return of deployed naval ships to the U.S. every seven to 10 years to undergo maintenance work.
Gallagher also called for the Navy to advance strategic communications initiatives as it works to increase the combat fleet size to 355 ships.
“The Navy needs to be able to honestly explain to itself what it will do with 355 ships and how this will be different from the fleet today,†said Gallagher, a HASC member.
“The Navy must tell its story in a way that inspires and mobilizes popular action, explaining how the future fleet will fight… and how it will meet our security needs.â€
