Admiral is correct
This responds to an April 2 letter, “Commander either poorly informed or misleading.”
The author is entitled to his own disposition and own ulterior motives.
However, he is not entitled to make up his own story line to question the veracity of a superb admiral.
Rear Admiral “Scotty” Gray suffers from no lack of integrity, accurate information, or regard for the Pacific Northwest.
The Navy does not use 100,000 watt transmitters, as the author asserts.
EA-18G Growlers protect aircraft and ground troops.
They are peerless at this and save many lives.
Adversaries are sophisticated, subtle, and mobile.
Growlers must detect electronic needles within stacks of needles.
Plus, those needles are never in the same place.
By extension, training transmitters are low-power, 90-300 watts.
They are purposefully not high-powered radio stations.
Additionally, Navy jets have coexisted with the Peninsula for over 60 years.
Contrary to what the author insinuates, the Navy earnestly seeks a wide range of mitigations for jet noise.
They have spent considerable sums.
Everyone but committed activists comprehends this is a tall order.
One method, called Magic Carpet directly reduced carrier practice requirements.
Another method, Substitution, makes the Navy with its partners one of the more prolific conservancy groups in the PNW.
Diverse approaches are being thoroughly explored.
Another consideration is that the Peninsula is a primary beneficiary of exceptional Navy search, rescue, and medevac capabilities, which are tied directly to Growlers.
The Navy conscientiously balances its national defense mission with community impacts.
Steve Bristow,
Oak Harbor