Most people understand that the United States Sea Services (the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Flagged Merchant Marine), are critical to the defense and security of our country. Few people understand how the sea services affect our daily lives; how they contribute to the prosperity of our country, our individual prosperity, and that of businesses of all sizes. Below is just a summary of the numerous ways they contribute to our economic wellbeing, individual and business prosperity.
The United States Navy:
- The U.S. Navy has a dramatic impact on the economic wellbeing of country, our daily lives, and the wellbeing of companies, professional firms, and organizations of all sizes. Over 90% of global trade moves by sea. The Navy plays a critical role in keeping the maritime trade routes (the sea lanes) open, ensuring the uninterrupted flow (exports and imports) of all kinds of manufactured goods, consumer goods, vehicles, construction materials and products, electronics, food products, energy, raw materials and a variety of other items that we buy every day and/or that companies buy or use. The U. S. Navy also plays a significant role in the protection of undersea cables that carry internet traffic, global banking, and other critically important traffic.
Why is this important to all of us? If our adversaries severely disrupted or closed the sea lanes for commerce, the economic impact would be severe. Shortages of all types of goods and materials individuals and businesses, of all sizes, purchase every day would cause a dramatic increase in prices on existing stocks, high inflation, the closings of small businesses, the halting business expansion, delaying or shutting down construction projects, and resulting in thousands of job losses and tax revenue for local communities, including in the Kansas City area. A stable, global, maritime environment encourages foreign investment, tourism, and economic growth—benefiting businesses and individuals. If the undersea cables were disrupted it would affect product related companies, service companies, and professional organizations of all sizes, including those in the Kansas City area.
The United States Marine Corps:
- The U.S. Marine Corps global deployments reassure allies and stabilize regions critical to U.S. commerce and trade. When required, U. S. Marines help secure strategic ports and sea lanes, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of goods that power industries and fill store shelves.
The United States Coast Guard:
- The U.S. Coast Guard plays a vital role in safeguarding America’s ports, harbors, navigable rivers, other homeland security responsibilities, as well as enforcing rules & regulations pertaining to commercial ships and recreational boating safety. The Coast Guard works to: prevent terrorist attacks, sabotage, espionage, and other subversive acts targeting our U.S. maritime infrastructure (harbors, ports, navigable rivers); maintain a constant awareness of vessel movements, cargo, and personnel in critical waterways, to oversee 92,000 navigation aids like buoys and lighthouses to guide vessels safe, to enforce laws related to boating safety, navigation rules, and vessel registration and to interdict illegal drugs which poison our youth and adults.
Why is this important to all of us? Without safe ports/ harbors, navigable rivers, and navigation aids, the transport of goods and materials from our ports/harbors to and from U. S. manufacturers, contractors, wholesalers, retailers, online companies and others would be severely disrupted causing shortages, price rises, high inflation, and loss of jobs, which would affect businesses of all sizes, and our individual prosperity.
The United States flagged Merchant Marine:
The United States Merchant Marine plays a significant role in augmenting the U. S. Navy, in times of war. In peacetime however, it plays a critical role in fueling prosperity across all levels of American business from solo entrepreneurs to multinational corporations.
- Merchant Marine vessels help keep shipping costs competitive, allowing small, medium, and large businesses to source materials or sell products globally: provide specialized cargo ships (e.g., tankers, container ships and offer tailored transport options for niche industries like agriculture, energy, and construction, and provide. provide secure, dependable transport, especially vital during geopolitical disruptions or emergencies.
Government Contracts: Kansas City area companies currently and over the years have obtained millions of dollars in contracts to provide goods and services to the U. S. Sea Services, creating good paying area jobs. Personnel from Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard installations, recruiting offices, active duty, and reserve units, in or near Kansas City, purchase or rent homes/apartments and spend money in our local communities. Numerous veterans and retirees, of these Services, are employed by local companies, large and small, contributing skills learned in the military along with a strong work ethic.
This educational piece is sponsored by the Navy League of the United States Greater Kansas City Council. www.navyleaguekansascity.org
The men and women of the sea services serve our country, us as individuals, and companies, of all sizes, 24/7. Please help inform others of their contributions and sacrifices by scanning this document into your computer or mobile device and sharing with those on your contact list; families, friends, employees, and others. Ask them to do the same. It is a small contribution of your time to help inform others about what the sea services do for all of us.
Thank you for your assistance.