R 040041Z JAN 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 001/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/SECNAV MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  TODAY, I WAS SWORN IN AS YOUR 74TH SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.  AT A TIME WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES AT WAR, WITH MARINES AND
SAILORS IN HARM'S WAY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, IT IS A CHALLENGE
THAT I ACCEPT WITH A KEEN AWARENESS OF THE SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THIS OFFICE.
2.  IN THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, PRESIDENT BUSH DECLARED:
"THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST TERRORISM IS A STRONG OFFENSIVE AGAINST
TERRORISTS."  THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM IS ENGAGED IN AN AGGRESSIVE
CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT TERRORIST ENEMIES NOT ONLY IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN, BUT GLOBALLY.  PROTECTING AMERICA AGAINST THREATS WILL
REMAIN OUR PRIMARY MISSION, A TASK THAT WILL REQUIRE THE SERVICE OF
WARFIGHTERS WHO WILL NEVER LOSE FOCUS ON THE DRIVE TO VICTORY.
3.  THE WORLD HAS SEEN MOMENTOUS CHANGES IN RECENT DECADES, AND THE
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MUST ADAPT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS.  THROUGHOUT
HISTORY, NATIONS HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY THREATS THAT EMERGED WITHOUT
ADEQUATE WARNING.  DEMOCRACIES, IN PARTICULAR, ARE RELUCTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THREATS.  BUT ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY
SHOWS THAT WEAKNESS INVITES AGGRESSION AND THAT STRENGTH DETERS WAR.
WE MUST REMAIN PREPARED, STRONG, AND READY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES
OF THE FUTURE.
4.  IN MY CONFIRMATION HEARINGS BEFORE CONGRESS THIS PAST OCTOBER, I
MENTIONED FIVE PRIORITIES THAT WILL ENGAGE MY FULL ATTENTION AS
SECRETARY:
- PEOPLE.
- THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.
- SHIPBUILDING.
- 2005 QDR IMPLEMENTATION.
- BRAC IMPLEMENTATION.
5.  I WILL HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT ALL OF THESE ITEMS IN THE MONTHS
AHEAD.  TODAY I WILL ONLY MENTION ONE:  PEOPLE-OUR MOST VALUABLE
ASSET.  SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE REPUBLIC, AMERICANS HAVE RELIED
ON A STRONG NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TEAM TO DEFEND THEM AGAINST HER
ENEMIES.  NOTHING CAN PLAY SO DECISIVE A ROLE AS WELL-TRAINED,
HIGHLY MOTIVATED SAILORS AND MARINES WHO BELIEVE IN THEIR MISSION.
YOU SHOULD FEEL HONOR-HONOR!-IN KNOWING THAT TODAY, DURING THIS TIME
OF WAR, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TURN TO YOU TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE.
YOU HAVE CHOSEN A NOBLE PROFESSION, AND YOU JOIN A LONG AND HONORED
TRADITION AS GUARDIANS OF OUR LIBERTY, AND DEFENDERS OF A GREAT
NATION.  I AM HONORED TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR SECRETARY.
6.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//