WASHINGTON REPORT

摘要

The Navy is re-creating the riverine warfare capabilities that it has largely shunned since the end of the Vietnam War and is establishing a naval infantry battalion as a means of taking some of the expeditionary load off of the heavily tasked Marine Corps and Army forces, and to stabilize use of reserve forces. The Navy plans to establish an active-duty riverine squadron by fiscal year 2006, followed by two reserve riverine squadrons by 2008. The capability will more than fill a void caused by the disbanding of the Marine Corps' single riverine company. A Navy official said "the Navy should own that capability" and that Adm. Vern Clark, outgoing chief of naval operations (CNO), "was looking to make these things happen fast."