Hoping to cut costs, Navy experiments with civilians on warship

[Robbien]

ERIC TALMADGE

Associated Press

. . .

Reflecting increasing pressure to cut costs and shift personnel to where they are most needed, the San Diego-based USS Coronado recently sailed into Yokosuka, the fleet's home port just south of Tokyo, with a mostly civilian crew in an experiment officials say could have broad implications for the way the Navy staffs its ships around the world.

Stretched thin by tight fiscal restraints and the demands of supporting operations in Iraq and elsewhere, the Navy is streamlining its forces and rethinking its deployments. As part of the changes, it is cutting nearly 8,000 personnel - for an estimated annual savings of nearly $1 billion.

. . .


Officers say the crew reduction was possible mainly because of the experience the civilians bring with them. Though most Navy ships carry many young sailors still learning how to do their jobs, the civilians aboard the Coronado are seasoned mariners who can often do the work of several trainees.

. . .

Unlike their enlisted counterparts, civilians can be let go as soon as they are no longer needed. Though they are paid about twice as much as people in uniform, they don't get many of the military's benefits, including its retirement package.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/8641041.htm?ERIGHTS=1909215959378694509mercurynews::[e-mail]&KRD_RM=1ioiiopmnkqlhhhhhhhhikqnjq|User|Y

[htuttle]

1. Civilians on warships == outsourcing the crews of navy ships

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Ah privatizing the Army

Anybodh into games, if not, does not matter

Go read the fluff text at the begining of Armagedon 2089, Mongoose Press.

Why am I mentioning them, well at the end of the day DOD is privatized and called GenDef, General Defense, and is just a contractor working for the US Government, their dream really

[pinto]

3. privatization has worked so well in Iraq......n/t

[rfranklin]

5. How the hell can this save money?

Wasn't Pat Tillman making $18,000 in the Rangers while mercs in Iraq are making over $100,000?

[hunter]

10. How about if they don't use Americans?

That could save lots of money...

Hell, maybe they could just stop in foreign ports, pick up drunk guys off the streets, and not pay them anything!

Isn't that the way they used to do it?

[SidDithers]

4. Those $1000/day contractors are really saving $ in Iraq...

What's the average GI or Marine make? $100/day? $200?

Sid

[Tempest]

6. The last time they did this

Four Japanese students were killed when the citizen controlled submarine surfaced under a fishing trawler.

[oneighty]

7. Sure

When the shooting starts and the ships start sinking the rats will leave.

180. Ex Navy.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Well said 180...

Hey...If WalMart's not hiring, folks can get temp work with the Navy.

[Dover]

8. And the billions and billions of dollars already granted to the Pentagon?

Kind of like what was done to the states. Starve them out...while enriching the private sector.

[gratuitous]

11. Why do they need to cut costs?

I thought Bushenomics was about to swell the federal coffers past the bursting point when all those tax cuts for the overrich were going to give Americans millions of high-paying jobs? Something the public isn't being told here?

[yankeeinlouisiana]

12. I'm sure they'll have a

tight screening process, :shrug: (I hope).

This doesn't sound like a very bright idea.

[peacetalksforall]

13. The story here is that a part of the Navy is going be privatized

And a corporation is going to make 'generous' money and some government employee may be getting payola....maybe even some Congresspeople....and
it all may all be outsourced.

Goodbye college. Goodbye career. Goodbye America!

[Bluebear]

14. Companies will buy the rights to name a boat

Nothing makes you prouder to be a citizen than to see the SS Halliburton or the "Coors Light" sailing by.

[DS1]

16. performance-based paychecks? You lose a ship, you get no bonus

90% of your check is bonus.

[DS1]

15. *ahem* Draft Rehearsal. Let's see how we do when we bring

a fresh batch of sailors in that have never seen the ship before.

[soup]

17. Are ships easier to steer than subs?

The whole civilian thing didn't work too well with the USS Greeneville.

[maddezmom]

18. kick