Young: Indiana’s Crane will Increase in Importance

WASHINGTON, D.C – In a guest column in today’s Bloomington Herald-Times, Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) highlights the importance of Indiana’s Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and Crane Army Ammunition Activity. Senator Young recently hosted the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller at Crane to demonstrate its contributions to America’s national security. 

“At a time when our country confronts an extraordinary array of threats, I will continue to do all I can in the Senate to ensure Crane can continue its essential role in supporting our service members,” Senator Young wrote. “The skilled workers at Crane ensure that our men and women in uniform have everything they need to conduct their missions and return home safely. I can’t think of anything more important than that.”

View the full column here and below. 

Crane Will Increase in Importance

By: U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.)

Bloomington Herald-Times

November 8, 2017 

“Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane is a national treasure that provides essential support for our warfighters and our national security. The support Crane provides to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and the work Crane does to keep Americans safe is critical and will only increase in importance in the coming years.

“In February, I invited the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, to visit Crane, and I am grateful that he accepted my invitation.

“As someone who served in the Marine Corps, I was proud to host him there with Sen. Donnelly on Oct. 13.

“It is no small thing to have a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visit Crane. In fact, Gen. Neller’s visit was the first time the commandant of the Marine Corps has visited Crane in its 75-year history.

“The visit gave Crane’s skilled staff the opportunity to demonstrate what they do for our security each day to a top Pentagon decision maker. Gen. Neller received briefings on Crane’s cutting-edge work related to rapid innovation and special weapons, as well as how Crane Army Ammunition Activity provides significant logistical support for the Marine Corps. The commandant also received classified briefings on Crane’s work to support our nation’s nuclear deterrent, as well as Crane’s work in the area of electronic warfare. 

“Gen. Neller was able to see firsthand how Crane provides essential and innovative support to our warfighters — ensuring they never find themselves in a fair fight. 

“By all accounts, Gen. Neller was impressed. He came away with a greater appreciation for how the Hoosiers at Crane play an indispensable role in our national security and can play an even more important role going forward.

“The more our defense leaders understand the unique and essential contributions Crane provides to our national security, the more we can ensure that Crane will be able to play that role for decades to come.

“For that reason, I have also been pushing for top Air Force leaders to visit Crane.

“I want Air Force leaders to understand all that Crane already does for the Air Force and how Crane can do even more for our airmen.

“I am encouraged that Gen. Robin Rand from Air Force Global Strike Command and Lt. Gen Jack Weinstein, Air Force deputy chief of staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, recently visited Crane. I understand that they came away with an even deeper appreciation for what Crane can do.

“At a time when our country confronts an extraordinary array of threats, I will continue to do all I can in the Senate to ensure Crane can continue its essential role in supporting our service members.

“The skilled workers at Crane ensure that our men and women in uniform have everything they need to conduct their missions and return home safely.

“I can’t think of anything more important than that.”