SO what do you think about this Top gun for SWOs?

2015-06-10T15:03:22-04:00

http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/nsmwdc/Pages/Naval-Surface-and-Mine-Warfighting-Development-Center-Activates-at-Naval-Base-San-Diego.aspx#.VXiJYvlVhBc

Welcome to SMWDC

SAN DIEGO - Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, speaks to personnel at the inaugural ceremony for Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) at Naval Base San Diego.

Response by LT Stephen Amiaga made Jun 10 at 2015 4:00 PM

2015-06-10T16:00:08-04:00

Awesome!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 10 at 2015 9:44 PM

2015-06-10T21:44:57-04:00

So in essence better qualified TAO's. Sounds good to me!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 11 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-06-11T12:43:08-04:00

I think Tom (he was a classmate of mine) (VADM Rowden) is trying to re-energize the SWO community. It is often seen as the red-headed step child in the Navy. Aviators and Submariners seem to get promoted faster (note the current and incoming CNO are both submariners). In fact the incoming CNO is the same year group as Rowden and myself.

What I'm more amazed by is Rowden has ordered that all surface ships will shoot every day they are under way. If they don't they need to answer to him directly as to why not. This is strange from a couple points.

First off, is the budget. We are cutting pay and benefits for the troops and retirees and he wants to spend lots of money on bullets. Not to mention the fact that BG commanders often refuse permission to shoot.

The second fact is that gunnery is a second place tool now. Consider that the DDG 51 only has one gun - the VLS is the primary weapon for combatants now...

I think Rowden means well, but I think his idealism is clouded and he doesn't really get the big picture...