Why the Navy Has a Problem with Its Message

This entry is lifted from an email I received today from a colleague; some things to think about here....

These photos were included in the 12 July DoD "Week in Photos" section of the Defenselink website. All of the other photos were of Soldiers fighting in Afghanistan or in combat training and of a USAF tanker conducting a tanking mission.

The first photo is of AAVs returning to USS BATAAN during a training exercise. This photo could pretty much have been taken at any time since the 1960s, and is of an activity that likely will not again be conducted in a wartime environment. The caption for the first photo is:

SEA ASSAULT

Amphibious assault vehicles from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit approach the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan during a training exercise in the 5th Fleet area of operation, July 11, 2009. Bataan is serving as the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine unit is serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command.

The second photo speaks for itself.

FEET FIRST

A USS Bataan sailor jumps from the ship's hangar bay during swim call in the Gulf of Aqaba, July 11, 2009. Bataan is serving as the flagship of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations.

Hard for the nation to take the Navy seriously. We could be highlighting the work of the Seabees, the Navy Riverine units, the EA-6B squadrons, the P-3 squadrons, the Navy PRTs in Afghanistan, the Navy Individual Augmentees everywhere, or Navy medical, all of whom are doing a lot of heavy lifting in the CENTCOM AOR...