by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Since 1942, when construction began at Naval Station Mayport, the military harbor and airfield complex has been a part of Jacksonville’s history and an economic driver for the community.
That tradition is poised to continue, U.S. Navy Capt. Aaron Bowman told the Rotary Club of Jacksonville Monday.
The 3,700-acre base has docking facilities for up to 34 vessels and an 8,000-foot runway. After World War II, the base was decommissioned then revived in 1955, when the first of a line of aircraft carriers was home-ported there until 2007. Then, the USS John F. Kennedy pulled out of the carrier basin for the last time.
Bowman, who has logged more than 2,300 hours of flight time in combat aircraft, said that in 1992, the air base and naval station were consolidated into a single command and further that naval regulations require that an aviator is commanding officer.
He also said there are 83 separate commands on the base and 10,000 active duty personnel assigned to those commands, making it the Navy’s third-largest base behind San Diego, Calif., and Norfolk, Va.
“We move a lot of ships and log 10,000 flight hours a year,” said Bowman.
He began his presentation about what will happen in Mayport’s future with a caution. “Administrations and threats change, so none of this, or all of this, may happen,” he said.
The certainty he could report is the $46 million dredging project to deepen the harbor. Bowman said the contract for the work is expected to be awarded next month and then the work can begin to move 5.3 million cubic yards of material.
The project is in anticipation of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier being home-ported at Mayport, which Bowman also said is in the base’s future.
“The Navy decided on Jan. 13, 2009, to bring an aircraft carrier from Virginia to Mayport,” he said. “The Navy decided the East Coast nuclear carrier fleet should be dispersed.”
Bowman said the capital investment for the relocation will total $490 million in construction costs plus another $190 million to equip the new facilities and move the carrier and its personnel.
Bowman said possible missions for Mayport include a new test range off the coast, a $100 million project that could start in two or three years.
The new Littoral Combat Ship, a modular platform that Bowman said is the future of naval combat, could also call Mayport home by 2020. It’s designed to operate in coastal areas. “It has a very shallow draft and it’s very fast. It will take away hiding places some combatants enjoy today,” he said.
Bowman also shared information about the Navy’s recruiting efforts. He said the personnel quotas are being met and the Navy is raising its standards for new sailors.
“In three years, we won’t accept anyone with just a GED,” he said. Bowman also said that among active duty personnel, almost all are taking college classes and about half have already earned an associate’s degree.
The fleet is also recruiting more minorities and women and introducing new programs to retain personnel. Bowman said one-year maternity leaves are available for female personnel who want to have a baby.
“It’s another thing the Navy is doing for the Gen X folks,” said Bowman.
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