posted July 16, 2008
) Pictured at the Navy League dinner with Rear Admiral Steven Romano, center, are Jack Spittler, left and Billy Hewitt, president, right. |
Rear Adm. Romano's parents and brother, who live in Hixson, were guests and his uncle, Jim Smith of Signal Mountain, is a member of the Navy League.
The Navy League, he said, "has the right goals for the time, to support the men and women of the sea services, their families and the Sea Cadets."
The European Command, he said, provides options for the secretary of the Navy. There are 93 countries in Europe and Africa where he oversees the direction and management of international agreements and the coordinated logistical support of the U.S. European Command, with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
He said that 40 percent of the troops in Germany are "wounded warriors" who have been brought to hospitals in Germany.
All services, Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Special Forces, are represented in the 80,000 personnel whose duties include regional security and stability, terrorism, drugs, human traffic, a Russian relationship, Israel stability, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
Their vision is Europe as a global partner, a broader Mid-East peace, stability and security in Arica and building partner capability. A part of this is an African partnership station with ships off the coast providing training for a broad range of countries, not for colonialism but to provide help, "so they will trust us."
His command works with Israel, whose greatest concern is its borders with "neighborhood bad guys all over."
There is engagement with Russia over global concerns and they are often seeking agreements with various countries. He mentioned agreements now underway with Czechoslovakia and Poland, which will provide more stability in the area.
He also answered a number of questions from the audience, ranging from Iraq to Afghanistan to missile defense.
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