Page 10: of Marine News Magazine (October 2017)

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BY THE NUMBERS

GAO says that the Navy’s increased deployment Retired Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen put it lengths, shortened training periods, and reduced or de- best, a long time ago, when he said, “the general public ferred maintenance to meet high operational demands understands that driving an automobile is a privilege, but has resulted in declining ship conditions and a worsen- at the same time, they consider being able to drive a boat as ing trend in overall readiness. As the Navy doubled the a basic right.” That hasn’t changed much, over time. In any number of ships based overseas, training was not built event, and as you sign on board your next hull, remember into operational schedules, and as a result, the crews that the person in the other boat may not be quali