But you also know as well as I do, that the unrelenting demands on our forces threaten to diminish our readiness, our vital modernization programs, and equally as important, the quality of life of our Sailors and Marines. The future ain t what it used to be. We cannot assume that our vision will fund itself. All of us in this room need to remain engaged with the important issues of our times. After all, our Navy and Marine Corps can never again be thought of as an insurance policy.
Insurance is a hedge against a rainy day.
In today s security environment it is raining somewhere on the globe, all the time, and the runoff affects all of us. That is why we must invest in the future relevance of the Navy-Marine Corps Team. We must ensure adequate resources, training and quality of life initiatives to ensure our Sailors and Marines remain forward-deployed and ready, anytime anywhere. Many of those resources will come from within the Department of the Navy, as we continue to seek innovation and efficiency in everything we do. But, there is much more that can be done.