Sgt Stryker

I talked a while back about the problem with pirates and what the military is doing about it. I want to talk a little more about the Navy in general. There are a lot of seamen out there that are doing a great job for their country, staying out to sea for long periods of time so that they can do what they were trained to do and do it well. This is important for a lot of reasons, especially if you look at history.

Sea dominance has won or lost a lot of wars. Today, the US military pretty much dominates the oceans and seas, but there are a lot of countries (China) that are ramping up and building a huge navy. Because of this, it’s more important than ever for the US military to maintain its dominance on the open seas and other waterways in the world. Pausing or stopping or resting won’t cut it because there are people and nations actively trying to catch up and surpass us. We cannot let this happen if we’re serious about continuing to help other nations around the world.

Luckily the US Navy is still a leader, but they can’t rest on their laurels, if you know what I mean. It’s good to see so many soldiers out there dedicating their lives to the ship or sub they’re on – working and living with a lot of other people while out to sea. And if you remember the China incident (no follow up by the mainstream media? hmm….) there is danger on the seas still – another reason the US needs to remain vigilant on the open seas.

If you agree, leave a comment.

SGT STRYKER SHOUT OUT:

Strange Things Happen to Soldiers Sometimes

If you know a soldier, you may or may not have heard them tell some of the strange stories of weird things that happen to people in the military. If you or someone you know has a strange military story to share, leave a comment and maybe I’ll discuss it a little in another post, giving a shout out to your loved one in the military.

Iraqi Police Arming Non-commissioned Officers With Skills to Lead Their Own

Baqubah Special Missions Unit members simulate room-clearing procedures operations during a contingency scenario, April 16, at Forward Operating Base Gabe in Baqubah, Iraq. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios

Engineer Airfield Expansion Mission Uncovers Tank

Soldiers of the 277th Engineer Company, 1st Lt. Stuart Redus, left, and Staff Sgt. Ismael Gaona, both from San Antonio, Texas, are pictured with a T-72 tank discovered at Sather Air Base in Baghdad. Redus and Gaona are the officer-in-charge and non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the expansion mission at Sather Air Base. The tank was discovered while the engineers were conducting an airfield expansion mission. Photo by Staff Sgt. David Arispe

It took the 447th Air Force Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, based out of Missouri, two days, a crane, and a bucket loader to recover an Iraqi T-72 tank discovered at Sather Air Base in Baghdad. While working jointly with engineers from the 277th Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), the Air Force discovered the tank while grading the infields of Sather airfield. The tank has been buried since the first Gulf War. Photo by 1st Lt. Stuart Redus

USS George Washington

Seaman Katelyn Emenhiser, master-at-arms, stands Harbor Security watch for USS George Washington. George Washington, the Navy’s only permanently forward deployed aircraft carrier, is currently preparing for underway operations following its first Selected Restricted Availability at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Anthony Casullo

Returning Home

Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit debark the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex upon returning home from Balikatan 09. Photo by Seaman Apprentice Taurean Alexander

USS Harry S. Truman

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman transits the Atlantic Ocean with the Norwegian navy frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen as an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter lands on the flight deck during flight operations. Harry S. Truman is underway conducting a Tailored Ships Training Availability and Final Evaluation Phase. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin Smelley