When Admiral Vern Clark became Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in July 2000, he set forth his five priorities: manpower, current readiness, future readiness, quality of service, and Navy-wide alignment. In August 2001, the CNO took the next step in his series of alignment initiatives designed to unify and standardize fleet practices. In a message on Navy alignment to all commanders, commanding officers and officers-in-charge, he announced that, as of 1 October, the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, would assume the concurrent duties of Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (CFFC). U.S. Fleet Forces Command will be responsible for coordinating, establishing, and implementing integrated requirements and policies for manning, equipping and training Atlantic and Pacific Fleet units during the interdeployment training cycle.
In addition, building on the momentum of the transition of the warfare type commanders to a "lead-follow" relationship over the past year, as of 1 October, lead type commanders will assume the concurrent duties of fleet type commanders—as Commander Naval Surface Forces (ComNavSurFor), Commander Naval Submarine Forces (ComNavSubFor), and Commander Naval Air Forces (ComNavAirFor). The fleet type commanders will lead their communities and advise CFFC on vital community issues.
Further, Commander Third Fleet will be placed under administrative control of Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command for matters pertaining to development and implementation of interdeployment training cycle requirements and policies. And—to strengthen relationships between concept development and the fleet—the Naval Warfare Development Command at Newport, RI, will report to CFFC for purposes of warfare innovation, concept development, fleet and joint experimentation, and synchronization and dissemination of doctrine.
The integrated policies and requirements coordinated by U.S. Fleet Forces Command will result in standard fleetwide practices on both coasts. They will lead to a highly unified fleet that deploys from different coasts, yet draws on a shared and streamlined organization to complete the same training, execute common tactics, techniques, and procedures, and operate seamlessly around the world.
Rear Admiral Ryan is Director of Warfare Requirements and Readiness for the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.