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aritime Reporters March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the ? eet beyond the

Mcurrent number of 308 ships, the Mi- tre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strate- gic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the ? eet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350.

With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there. The deci- sion to expand the number of ships is based on sound analysis, and most of the suggested numbers are the re- sult of a thoughtful examination of the requirement and the reasonable pathways to achieving growth.

According to a report to Congress by the Congres- sional Research Service, the ? gure of 355 ships appears close to an objective of building toward a ? eet of 350 ships that was announced by the Trump campaign or- ganization during the 2016 presidential election cam- paign. “The 355-ship goal, however, re? ects the na- tional security strategy and national military strategy that were in place in 2016 (i.e., the Obama Administra- tion’s national security strategy and national military strategy).”

But no matter how you slice it and dice it, there’s a huge cost.

And those who want to point to instantaneous grati? -

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex Smedegard/Released cation, and see an immediate growth in ? eet size, will not ? nd it in this most recent budget submission to the

Congress.

The current Presidential Budget delivered to Capitol

Hill does call for an increase in defense spending. This

Some careers might offer year’s budget submission is about readiness, not new construction.

security, advancement or bene?ts.

The non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates that “procuring the 57 to 67 ships that would need to be added to the Navy’s FY2017 30-year

MSC HAS shipbuilding plan to achieve the Navy’s 355-ship ? eet and maintain it through FY2046 would notionally cost an average of roughly $4.6 billion to $5.1 billion per

THEM ALL year in additional shipbuilding funds over the 30-year period, using today’s shipbuilding costs.”

There are also time and industrial capacity constraints to achieving the 355-ship objective. “Even with in- creased shipbuilding rates, achieving certain parts of the 355-ship force-level goal could take many years,”

CRS reports. “For example, the 355-ship force-level [email protected] goal includes a goal of 12 aircraft carriers. Increasing 888-891-4577 aircraft carrier procurement from the current rate of www.sealiftcommand.com one ship every ? ve years to one ship every three years would achieve a 12-carrier force on a sustained basis by about 2030. As another example, the 355-ship force ®

Take Command of Your Career level includes a goal of 66 attack submarines. Increas- ing attack submarine procurement to a rate of three attack submarines (or two attack submarines and one ballistic missile submarine) per year could achieve a MSC careers are some of the best in the maritime industry. That’s 65-boat SSN force by the late 2030s. CBO estimates because we combine job security with training and advancement that the earliest the Navy could achieve the 355-ship opportunities. This combination will take your career further, faster than ? eet would be 2035.” you thought possible. Considering that this path includes federal bene?ts,

That means manning and tooling up the nation’s ship- paid leave, ?exibility and camaraderie, MSC is a career worth pursuing.

MSC is an equal opportunity employer and a builders and suppliers.

drug-free workplace.

Visit sealiftcommand.com/now-hiring “Ramping up to higher rates of shipbuilding would to learn about our open positions.

require additional tooling and equipment at some ship- (Continued on page 38) www.marinelink.com 35

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