Something Was Missing From the Conversation

I have discussed a few of the things I enjoyed about the Conversation with the Country in Durham, specifically I thought all three services presented themselves well and kept it at the appropriate level for the audience present. However, walking out of this little adventure in observation I noted something odd that didn't quite work.

Shortly before the symposium began, and when I accepted the reality I had no shot of picking EagleOne out of the crowd, I began scouting the room for where I wanted to sit. The back row of tables were reserved, so I figured I would set up shop at a table in the back near the reserved seats, giving myself an opportunity to introduce myself should I get a chance. There were 30 tables, each table supporting 6-8 seats, in a configuration 6 across and 5 tables back aligned in rows. I picked a table in the fourth row in the back corner away from the entrance. When I sat down there was only one person at the table, a very interesting man who introduced himself as Jack Taylor.

I know, I should of known who Jack was, but I didn't. He immediately gives me his card which reads Director, Military Sealift Fleet Support Command. Quietly excited, I ran a quick Google search on my blackberry as the coffee begins to kick in. At that point we started talking about the MSC.

Jack was great, skeptical as hell of some young guy being advertised as a blogger, I don't think he knew quite what to make of me. When I talked about how the Navy could use an evangelist the other day, allow me to note that the MSC already has one, because when Jack talks about the MSC this quiet part of the Navy that gets very little mention becomes this global logistical operation available on demand.

As we were talking, Jack kept going back to the service relationship between the MSC and the Navy, the civilian character of the mariners in the MSC, and the always active aspect of the MSC that gets lost in the way the Navy presents itself. The MSC is that 'other' service that is always there, indeed several times throughout the day the Navy emphasized the soft power approach with the hospital ships, and General Conway mentioned the Sea Basing operation off Liberia, but throughout the day no one ever explained the difference between the Navy and the MSC.

I thought it was an opportunity missed. As Eagleone noted, the encouraging aspect of the questions and comments from those in attendance was the reoccurring question from a business leader participant asking "What can we do to help?" The Navy's answer for that very exciting question... was absolutely terrible. Let me explain...

RADM Fred Rosa described the Coast Guard perfectly, he discussed the Coast Guard as a military service that bridges the Department of Defense with the Department of Homeland Security. Everyone in the room understands that, it was simple and comprehensive at the same time. The Navy should use the MSC in the same way by leveraging the MSC as a way to bridge the maritime services with the civilian population. For example, how many stories does Captain Bob have after a deployment to the South Pacific. Captain Bob is a maritime mariner, a civilian, and I can tell you I've enjoyed all of his stories over the last few months. Captain Bob is one of many Captains with stories from a civilian perspective that can relate to, get this, civilians!

Before the Q&A session that ended the day, what if Captain Bob took the stage for a few minutes to discuss the MSC, and told this story.

I’m going to stray from this precept of mine to share with you a comment from my last post. This came from "Nenginin" in Chuuk who posted:

"We the people of Chuuk would have to agree with you when you said your visit to Chuuk was "amazing," but in a different perspective of course. Even after your departure today, we are still amazed when we think back to what you and everyone on the PP08 team did for the people of Chuuk. All of you must have heard so many 'thank yous’ and 'kinisou chapur', but I do not think we can ever thank you ENOUGH. We are truly blessed to have been visited by angels on their big white angel boat :) The sight of the beautiful Mercy in the Chuuk Lagoon will forever live in our hearts."

Wow! "...visited by angels on their big white angel boat." Not bad!!! And just a little humbling…to say the least.

That is a soft power story worth telling. How many NGOs and private sector organizations were involved in the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) deployment? Did the Navy fill up the Mercy or did the Mercy have any space to spare? What about the Kearsarge or Peleliu when they deployed? How much spare capacity does the Navy have that the private sector can contribute in these soft power deployments? Unless the answer is none, the Navy missed an opportunity.

Other ways the private sector can get involved includes what Eagleone suggested.

I wish the answers had been a little stronger instead of just "Write your Congressman," -- there should have been something like join the Navy League (the services should invite the local Navy League, Marine Corps League and the Coastie equivalent and introduce them), tell people to invite their Congressman to speak on maritime matters (that will keep such matters on his/her mind) and having the ability of interested people to sign up to get training to take home to their Rotary Club luncheons...

To be fair, the services did have the ROTC from the local universities there, and they were able to meet General Conway, so there was some of this. It was also a good opportunity to highlight some of the care programs for wounded Marines, you know, since we are a nation at war. If you don't know of a good private organization to recommend, allow me to recommend a great one. Then, after the Navy has given out as many options as possible, the 'write your Congressman' option can be given as the final fallback position for citizen action.

I thought that was a missed opportunity, but it doesn't need to be. The Military Sealift Command, specifically because of its civilian culture, is a perfect vehicle to transition the conversation from the service to the civilians towards the purpose of encouraging private citizen action. Maybe next time.