As the assistant secretary in charge of manpower, Morehouse focused her talk on how the Navy intends to recruit and keep the personnel who will become leaders in the years ahead. Morehouse was speaking to a receptive crowd, as the primary mission of the United States Navy League is to foster and promote to the general public the need for a strong Navy, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine and Coast Guard. Morehouse said the Navy has been hard at work creating initiatives in communication, technology and education to attract enlistees. They are the best hope for the Navy and Marine Corps to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. To attract and keep strong personnel, Morehouse said the Navy has worked at integrating technology.
People are a very valuable asset.
Fielding several general questions from the audience, Morehouse said the Navy s goal is to recruit people it can afford and then to treat them well to encourage them to stay. She said there are challenges in the process, as enlistment is a process of learning and building up toward leadership. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Commander Capt. Vernon T. Williams listened attentively with Retired Navy Capt. Milton Shaw of York, Maine, during Morehouse s presentation.