{"id":85678,"date":"2024-02-06T16:47:04","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T16:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/02\/06\/want-an-interchangeable-naval-force-expand-foreign-exchanges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:01:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:01:52","slug":"want-an-interchangeable-naval-force-expand-foreign-exchanges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/opinion\/2024\/02\/06\/want-an-interchangeable-naval-force-expand-foreign-exchanges\/","title":{"rendered":"Want an interchangeable naval force? Expand foreign exchanges."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is the fourth commentary in a multipart series exploring ways to strengthen the U.S. Navy\u2019s fleet. The first part is <\/i>here<\/i><\/a>, the second <\/i>here<\/i><\/a> and the third <\/i>here<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly two decades after then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen championed a 1,000-ship Navy<\/a>, the rationale<\/a> for a combined fleet \u2014 that is, a maritime fighting force augmented by international allies and partners \u2014 is more relevant than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent events<\/a> demonstrate that keeping vital waterways free and open requires both political resolve and \u2014 in the words of the current CNO, Adm. Lisa Franchetti<\/a> \u2014 \u201dplayers on the field<\/a>.\u201d But oceans are vast, ships cannot be in two places at once, and building them quickly is difficult and costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, the U.S. is the central node in a network of democratically minded, technologically advanced partners that confer a strategic advantage. Moreover, many of these allies<\/a> operate similar platforms and systems in their respective navies \u2014 gas turbine engines, the Aegis shipboard combat system, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, H-60 helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets \u2014 that can yield efficiencies in force design, generation and employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, leaping from interoperability to interchangeability is, in part, a human endeavor. To that end, the U.S. Navy has exchange agreements to host foreign professionals and send U.S. personnel abroad. Refocusing these programs through the lens of potential military conflict can accelerate the benefits of collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, expand the number of enlisted personnel exchanges<\/a> to build a deeper reservoir of expertise across the allied force. Within today\u2019s U.S. Navy, approximately 80 of nearly 300 foreign personnel exchanges are at the enlisted level \u2014 a number that should rise<\/a> as the AUKUS pathway<\/a> is implemented. These exchanges should be increased and modified to include a tour aboard a ship or with an aircraft squadron common to both navies, followed by an assignment at a regional maintenance facility, fleet logistics center or schoolhouse. Such an approach would develop common knowledge and capitalize on diversity of experience to generate better business practices and warfighting advantages for both sides. Leveraging some common ratings may even ease the strain on U.S. personnel<\/a> by filling important, but gapped<\/a>, seagoing billets.<\/p>\n\n\n\t