US Navy Recruit Training Command - Keel Yearbook (Great Lakes, IL)

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each war. The Far Eastern operations are no exception as shown by the fact that the cargo discharged in that area has averaged more than sixty pounds per man per day. This is well above the World War II average of forty-four pounds per man per day in any theatre of operation. The tremendous and ever-increasing task of logistical supply to overseas bases will always remain a naval responsibility. Superior Naval Strength Through all its varied components, the United States Navy exercises control of the seas and the coastal areas bounding them. All units of the Heet display unrivaled flexibility and mobility and, together, comprise a vast fighting potential- inimical to the interests of aggressive-minded nations-and a powerful safeguard of freedom. In measuring our own capabilities against a potential enemy, due appreciation must be taken of the factors of relative strength and weakness. We may, for example, find ourselves comparatively weak in manpower. We know happily that we are superior in naval strength, which includes the strength of naval aviation. E - ' Tw-L--it-1s.LQ Y 'if' . -anus T- V ' V -e, . 1 .-' - -- - ... Q. - - - 1 ., :st-v 71' . Y ' ..-1 -1 . I X. p 5' 1.1- -1- .121-.-.. - . Fv.!,g,.-'jug -f.. ,' -, ' 'H ,, I , 1 :.. -. ' -- ff:-Ei .':.fq 1 f-'1-,-.- .5 11-fe ' ': -' 3 r,f'e1fg5,g.:fe'4',-f.Q52:.'.- 5.11-5'-if -.4-i,.-qi.: ,, , Y 4-Q-2?.32S:cE:,?:gr25-mg ,gf -we .4'ig3':'g,-Q, X 12, rf ,fr rf .Q a'-.'- '- . 1 H., R Q' ,Q ' 7' ,,,, ,Y -S. ' lg . -.--Y as - fif- Fi ....,5f-U - -nr 1' yn? . .,-.., -..-A .'.,- v. - ' 1,1 if- Tl-ffs ' J f... k 9- , vv Mfg .gg-5-,fy . . if- Q , , 4-ff .f . ,.-..-fs-.? t ,.--1, vs.. , -- ' -' .-1' -. , i Ll? :gi Tiff- 4, 2 1.51 , 4 ,,,.:,, .., 3.5.4 tl ....4-,.5.saF -- . '- 1' ' '-451. va, '- -' VP 9, -vg,,'-Lg: ,Aga .fa :fi-7 ...If-3' - ,f A.. .dwflxmgi ,AA ,. . ,., , . . V4 5 U .Ne :1i.31,L ?5. f. il- I J W, Q W 4 irpnily YA uw., :.- . ,A . .Y ,Y . .,,,,sQf,., ., A dvd fail, cv, - t eas- f . nga It is axiomatic' that in preparing for any contest, it is wisest to exploit-not neglect-the elements in which we have superior strength. We must lead from strength-not from weakness. We should 4'Accentuate The Positive. Thus it is that a policy which provides for balanced develop- ment and coordinated use of strong naval forces must be fostered if we are, within the foreseeable future, to meet the challenge of arms of the forces which seem to oppose us. Trained Naval Personnel The Navy's lighting ships and aircraft represent the results of America's most advanced scientific research and develop- ment. They are precision products of American ingenuity and industry. But scientific research, improved equipment, and new naval construction alone will not insure that the Navy can maintain its present world leadership. The need for highly trained and qualified personnel to man thc ships and aircraft is now greater than ever. To meet this need, the Navy is constantly revising and improving its many and varied training programs and facilities in order to keep pace with modern educational and technical iw .' -is , r

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The modern fleet includes many task forces built around the present capital ship-of-the-line, the aircraft carrier. Fast carrier task forces composed of carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroy- ers and other combatant vessels, are the principal elements of todayis offensive naval strength and, as such, comprise the Navy's main striking force. The Navy is no longer shackled by the historic barriers of the shoreline, nor by the range of its shipborne gunsg but can strike blows deep in enemy territory, and can deliver at the target the atom bomb, when and if needed. Fast carrier task forces are able, without resorting to diplomatic channels, to establish offshore anywhere in the world airfields completely equipped with machine shops, ammunition dumps, tank farms, warehouses, together with quarters and all types of accommodations for operating personnel. Such task forces are virtually as complete as any air base ever established ashore. They constitute the only air bases which can be made available at the enemy's frontier without assault and conquest. Amphibious Assault and Naval Bombardment Whenever and wherever assault and conquest is deemed necessary, the accomplishment of an amphibious assault until a stable beachhead has been established is solely the respon- sibility of the Navy. The amphibious task forces are composed of all types of ships, naval aircraft, under-water demolition teams, reconnaissance facilities, and the specialized troops-the Marine Corps. Before, during, and after an initial assault naval guns and rockets launchers, in close coordination with naval aircraft, are able to devastatingly bombard enemy troops and installations, and lend close strategical and tactical support to our own ground forces in their advance to a desired objective. Submarine and Anti-Submarine Warfare The Navy's submarine forces, with a history of outstanding performance in World War II, are ready to assume again their vital tasks of offense or defense in any mission assigned. And, as a defensive measure, the Navy's Hunter-Killeri' task units, composed of escort carriers, blimps, and destroyers equipped with newly developed electronic devices, are training together as a team to track down and destroy any undersea craft of an aggressor nation. Logistical Supply ln addition to its function of denying the use of the sea to an enemy, the Navy now has the responsibility of lifting cargo by sea for the supply of all the armed services abroad. This problem seems to become more enormous and complex with fContinued on next pagel l EFF ' 'l miie? malaga-H i L ':

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k J in l ti., advancements, and thus provide the highly trained and qualified personnel required to maintain and opera-te The greatest Navy the world has ever knownf' The New Concept of Recruit Training The recruit of today differs somewhat from his World War II counterpart. Today most of the men in recruit training are under twenty years of age. These men are young and im- pressionableg many of them are entering the Navy with definite intent to make the Navy their career. It is of importance to the Navy that these men get the best possible start in their new venture. The transition from civilian to military life must be smoothg indoctrination in the customs, traditions, and reg- ulations of the service must be thoroughg basic Navy knowl- edges and skills must be developedg pride in and love for the Navy must be carefully cultivated. Especially in time of peace must there be an increase in the emphasis placed on the- mental, moral and social development of the individual. He must be led to a desire for self-improvement and advancementg a real- ization of his status in and importance to the Navy-a sense of belongingg and understanding of his place in a democracy NC.. - . , ,alt- as a sailor and a citizen-a fuller appreciation of the American way of life, the adoption, for himself, of high standards of responsibility, military performance and conduct. The Navy's stake in this enterprise is tremendous. From these men will come the petty ofiicers, the warrant oliicers, and some of the officers of the Navy of the future. That Navy can be no better than its men. The goals set forth above are stated in terms of ideals, hence can never he fully realized. But it is in recruit training that progress toward these goals must begin. And continued progress, wherever these men may be throughout the Navy, will ultimately produce the strong, effec- tive manpower required for the most powerful Navy in the world. The information contained in this editorial, and in all other written presentations, features and captions appearing in this publication, was obtained from official United States Navy sources. The pictures illustrating this editorial are official United States Navy photographs. -ni 5L,-mawrf-:- urs.. - -' 0 -- - - .ap-A