Colour coded future

STATE OF PLAY: Chief of Navy VADM Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, at the Navy Symposium. Photo: ABPH Justin Brown

IN A NUTSHELL The Chief of Navy’s Symposium was held in Sydney on November 16. One hundred and fifty people took part in the symposium including the Maritime Commander and DCN. CN announced the launch of Plan Green and Plan Blue to provide strategic guidance for the Navy.

Volume 49, No. 22, November 30, 2006

By Michael Brooke

The Chief of Navy’s Symposium was the launch pad of the new Plan Blue and Plan Green, as well as the discussion of a wide-range of important issues that will shape the future operations of the RAN.

VADM Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, also used the symposium to announce a name change for Maritime Command to Fleet Command, effective February 1, 2007.

The symposium was conducted at HMAS Watson on November 16 and featured briefings and discussions on “the state of the Navy”, maritime operations, people and resources, the success of the Sea Change initiatives, and delivering the future Navy.

The 150 participants included Deputy CN RADM Russ Crane, Maritime Commander Australia RADM Davyd Thomas, NAVSYSCOM CDRE Peter Jones, as well as the FEG, ship and shore establishment commanders.

CN delivered the keynote address in which he discussed the results achieved by the RAN over the past 12 months, his priorities and the results he expects Navy to achieve by the end of 2007.

He said his priorities for the Navy continue to be the conduct of maritime operations, leading our people and managing our resources, developing the Navy of the future, and providing effective corporate governance.

CN said the RAN has been extremely busy over the past year with operational deployments and exercises, and that this tempo was likely to continue in the future.

CN also spotlighted the growing success of the Sea Change initiatives that are steadily improving service conditions that aid retention and increase recruiting levels.

He also spoke about the major platforms being procured, such as the Hobart Class AWDs and the Canberra Class LHDs, while praising the existing platforms such as the Collins Class submarines which he described as “world class”.

CN took the opportunity to launch the new Plan Green and the new Plan Blue, the latter of which is his strategic guidance for the evolution of the future Navy.

“It articulates Navy’s view of the future and the challenges we face,” he said.

“Plan Blue supports Navy’s Future Maritime Operating Concept 2025 and will be implemented through Plan Green and a new follow on strategy entitled – The Navy Strategy – Charting the Course to 2025.”

CN said this strategy will be developed and published by mid- 2007 and will be a bridge between Plan Green and Plan Blue.

“We must scan the future and evolve Navy so that we are prepared to meet the challenges in defence of our nation for the decades to come,” he said.

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