Next year at the Multi-REDCOM Technical Training Sessions we will have a celebration of 200 years as a "High Tech Brain Trust." Over the years the technology has changed. In the early years we built sailing ships out of wood and powered them with clothe. By the early 1800's we were powering Naval ships with steam - only 20 pound steam, but more reliable than the wind.
We have come a long way translating the findings of science into Navy tools. Materials have changed. Where we got the power to move the ship through the water has changed. The weapons and defenses have changed. Radar, electronics, communication, and computers have added another element of complexity to all that we do.
You are "twice a high tech citizen" - to borrow from Winston Churchill. And that dual citizenship stands you in good stead. Not only do you have the ability to be a success in your civilian job but so too in your Naval career. You are a generalist by virtue of being a multi-specialist - that is two professional paths.
Just as your civilian job makes you more valuable to the Navy Reserve - your Naval Reserve experience makes you more attractive for a civilian career in parallel. Your skills are important to the Navy. If there is "technology on the shelf" for the future, it exists in your "wet computer," your mind. Because what we do as Naval Reserve Engineering Duty Officers is preparation for whatever technology contingency awaits us in the future.
We are also High Tech Warriors. We are ready for immediate crisis response. And we achieve that readiness by on-the-job mutual support of our gaining commands. That means that we are ready to fix ships if they are battle damaged, we are ready to rearm ships if they need to strike at enemies, and we are ready to fix and debug combat systems if they do not provide the service expected.
I am very pleased with the high level of excellence I see in the Engineering Duty Officers I meet in my travels around the country - both Reserve ED's and Regular ED's. We are all one community: serving One Navy.
You and the Navy - Full Speed Ahead!