RAAUZYUW RUENAAA0706 2361413-UUUU--RUCCBWF.
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R 241413Z AUG 06 PSN 794372I32
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
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UNCLAS
SUBJ: SECNAV MESSAGE TO THE FLEET
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//
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UNCLAS
ALNAV 068/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/-/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/SECNAV MESSAGE TO THE FLEET//
RMKS/1. THE RECENT NON-COMBATANT EVACUATION OPERATION (NEO) FROM
LEBANON DRAMATICALLY DEMONSTRATED ONCE AGAIN THAT WHEN IT COMES
TO RESPONDING TO CRISES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, NO ONE DOES IT
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BETTER THAN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, IN THIS CASE, LED BY THE
NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM.  THE OPERATION WENT SO SMOOTHLY THAT IT IS
EASY TO OVERLOOK THE MAGNITUDE OF THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES INVOLVED
IN EXECUTING THIS OPERATION.  TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THIS NEO, YOU ARE TRUE PROFESSIONALS THAT MADE A
DIFFICULT JOB LOOK EASY.
2. IN CARRYING OUT THIS JOINT NEO, THE JTF COMMANDER WITH NINE U.S.
NAVY SHIPS, A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (SPECIAL OPERATIONS CAPABLE),
AND AN EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE GROUP STAFF WERE DISPATCHED TO THE JOINT
OPERATIONS AREA, TOGETHER WITH USAF TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT, MEDICAL
PERSONNEL, AND ADDITIONAL ARMY ASSETS-ALL FOCUSED ON A SINGLE
MISSION: THE SAFE AND EXPEDITIOUS MOVEMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.
OPERATING IN A PRECARIOUS THREAT ENVIRONMENT, NEARLY 15,000 U.S.
CITIZENS WERE TRANSPORTED TO SAFETY ON NAVY SHIPS, CHARTERED CRUISE
SHIPS, AND HELICOPTERS.  WHILE PROTECTING YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS FROM
HARM, YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY SAVED LIVES BY PROVIDING CRITICAL
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO DISLOCATED INDIVIDUALS IN DISTRESS.  THE
SUPERB COORDINATION BETWEEN SAILORS AND MARINES ON SHIPS,
HELICOPTERS, LANDING CRAFT, AND ASHOREONNEL AT NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL C
OMMAND IN BAHRAIN, THE U.S.
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EMBASSY IN BEIRUT, SIXTH FLEET, AND THE JOINT TASK FORCEN
AN EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION IN CHALLENGING AND UNCERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES.
3. FROM THE MOMENT THE ORDER ARRIVED TO BEGIN EVACUATING AMERICAN
CITIZENS IN LEBANON, THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RESPONDED RAPIDLY,
REFLECTING BOTH OUTSTANDING TRAINING AND YOUR CHARACTERISTIC  CAN DO
ATTITUDE TOWARD EVERY TASK.  ADDITIONALLY, YOUR WORK AS PART OF AN
OPERATION INVOLVING OVER 170 VESSELS FROM 17 COUNTRIES SERVED AS AN
EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE BENEFITS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE
MARITIME DOMAIN.
4. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS AND UNSURPASSED
PROFESSIONALISM THROUGHOUT THIS COMPLEX AND DEMANDING OPERATION.  YOU
HAVE ONCE AGAIN MADE AMERICA PROUD, AND YOU CONTINUE TO HONOR THIS
COUNTRY WITH YOUR DEDICATION TO DUTY AND PATRIOTIC SERVICE.  WELL
DONE.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.//
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