by VADM Jerry L. Unruh, USN(Ret)
As the eulogies were given and CAPT David McCampbell, the Navy's highest ace, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in July, the familiar theme, repeated often as we have commemorated the 50th anniversary of the war in the Pacific, was again heard. Against overwhelming odds and driven by courage and bravery, Naval Aviators carried the fight to the enemy, turned back striking forces and carried out daring attacks despite great personal risk. CAPT McCampbell scored 34 kills, 9 of them on a two-plane flight in which he and his wingman engaged and turned back 60 attacking aircraft.
For these and other actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. During the Arlington services, we were suddenly snapped back to reality when the chaplain tossed a handful of dirt onto McCampbell's casket and said "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" as the honor guard folded the revered flag. ADMs Tom Connolly, Bill Martin, Jim Russell and Don Griffin are also true-life American heroes who have recently passed on as World War II slides further into history. These and men like them compensated for shortages in manpower and machines with sheer guts, skill and dedication. And many paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their actions and victories at Midway, Guadalcanal, Coral Sea, Philippine Sea, Iwo Jima and others led to the successful conclusion of the war and greatly strengthened Naval Aviation in the ensuing years.
In the modern era of high-tech warfare, unlike Dave McCampbell and his wingman, decisive victory cannot be achieved based on bravery, guts and determination alone. In less than one century, technology has accelerated rapidly from the first powered flight to travel in space, from steam power to the nuclear age and from the buffalo hunter's rifle to laser-guided weapons. We have entered a new era in warfare where, with significant technological advantage and force structure, you win. If you don't possess these, you lose--there are "no points for second place." The Iraqi desert was the ultimate showcase, with nightly hightech demonstrations on our living-room television screens.
The price of war is very high in human sacrifice, and exponentially higher in terms of defense dollars. As Congressman John Kasich so aptly stated in his article (The Hook, Su '96, Page 9), "Carrier aviation is expensive. However, this cost shrinks in comparison with the cost of fighting a war. The success of carrier aviation should not only be counted in wars fought, but also in wars not fought."
Congressman Kasich's words ring true. We have heard them over and over as our forces surge forward to crises around the globe, sometimes with anchormen like Dan Rather "reporting from the Independence Battle Group somewhere in the Gulf." These reports beam back scenes of sailors catching a few minutes of rest on a hot, steamy flight deck as they toil through 16-hour days of continuous flight operations. They tell of pilots returning to refuel and launch again for the Arabian Desert, for long patrols month after month.
But the question looms: How much more can we do with reduced assets? Technology allows us to reduce force structure. The Cold War is over. Joint/coalition warfare further justifies force reductions. This logic is dangerous in today's changing, unstable international environment.
Much of the ongoing activities of our Armed Forces, particularly Naval forces, are carried out without public awareness and without fanfare. But it must be recognized the bucket is hitting the bottom of the well as water continues to be drawn. Our operating tempo is 25 percent higher than 20 years ago. Seventy-five percent of the Armed Forces deployed to respond to contingency and expeditionary requirements are Naval forces. The remaining 25 percent is divided between the Army and the Air Force. On any given day, 50 percent of our ships and aircraft are at sea, away from home port, family and friends. Meanwhile, funding continues to shrink. Procurement accounts are reaching the lowest levels since 1950. The Army, shrinking from a 1991 force of 800,000, will soon be at 495,000 to match a reported 1939 level. Our Navy will have reduced from nearly 600 ships to 346 by next year.
Many of our Naval Aviators, young and old alike, are concerned about the future of U.S. Naval Aviation. Downsizing was inevitable following the dismantling of the USSR. But in the view of the limited procurement budget currently available and the "bow wave" in funding requirements discussed by Congressman Kasich, that concern is valid. Congress recognizes these shortfalls and the Navy Director for Air Warfare carefully works these issues, emphasizing both near-term readiness and force structure needs while balancing future ship, aircraft and weapons requirements. The 1997 budget is expected to include a small but certainly welcome increase of 16 aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps and a number of much-needed weapons. In the future these budget issues will become more intense.
Therefore, all of the organizations in Naval Aviation, all of our communities (helicopter, patrol, tactical, etc.) must be supportively engaged. We must pursue common goals through coordinated efforts in support of Naval Aviation. As defense funding, which is currently 17 percent of the Federal budget, drops to 16 percent and likely lower in future years, our collective support for programs such as the Common Support Aircraft, F/A-18E/F production and CVN-77 is needed. Affordability of three major tactical aircraft programs, the F/A-18E/F, F-22 and the multi-service Joint Strike Fighter expected to be operational in 2015, is coming into question. The Navy will reach minimum force levels for its 10 active air wings in the year 2000. We must increase our support efforts and provide assistance where possible to enhance Naval Aviation. Our efforts with the Center for Naval Analysis Group to help them define the follow-on to the Nimitz-class carrier, known as CVX-78, will lead to a platform optimized for the battle space of the future, enhancing our capability to respond to any crises ranging from peacetime assistance to intense conflict. CVX-78 will likely employ revolutionary design, propulsion and launch/recovery systems, and include the latest in stealth technology.
In any discussion of Naval forces, we still must ultimately return to the people. Just like Dave McCampbell, our Navy fighting men and women are the finest there are, sustaining the tradition established by their predecessors. Although we are entering a new era of technology, our people embody the ultimate strength of our Navy and Marine Corps, and should always be foremost in our minds.
With respect to the fate of those who still are held in suspense over the 1991 convention issues, the Association of Naval Aviation remains committed to assist in achieving a satisfactory resolution. We will actively pursue the issue on Capitol Hill with a goal of terminating the currently imposed Tailhook Certification Procedure. Fortunately for our country, the men and women of Naval Aviation continue to excel, wherever and whenever their courage, honor and commitment are required.
VADM Unruh is president of the Association of Naval Aviation.