SUBJ/3500TH STRATEGIC DETERRENT PATROL//

RMKS/

1. THE COMPLETION OF THE NAVY'S 3500TH STRATEGIC DETERRENT PATROL BY USS FLORIDA (SSBN 728) PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICA'S SUBMARINE FORCE. ALL SAILORS WHO HAVE SERVED ONBOARD FLEET BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINES SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN THIS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.

2. FOR THE PAST 41 YEARS, THE NAVY'S FLEET BALLISTIC MISSILE (FBM) SUBMARINES HAVE BEEN THE SEA-BASED LEG OF THE STRATEGIC TRIAD. THE ORIGINAL VESSELS WERE KNOWN AS THE "41 FOR FREEDOM." SSBNS WERE AN INNOVATIVE CONCEPT TURNED INTO REALITY THROUGH THE VISION AND TENACITY OF TRUE PIONEERS. ENORMOUS FIREPOWER, COMBINED WITH INHERENT AND UNRIVALED STEALTH, TRANSFORMED US STRATEGIC FORCES AND CAPABILITIES. TODAY, 18 ULTRA-QUIET, MODERN TRIDENT CLASS SUBMARINES CARRY FREEDOM'S TORCH. THEY DETER WOULD-BE AGGRESSORS AND MAINTAIN SECURITY IN RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING THREAT AND PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

3. ALTHOUGH OFTEN UNSEEN, THE SSBN FORCE HAS WIELDED ITS INCREDIBLE POWER WITH STEADFASTNESS AND UNSURPASSED EFFECTIVENESS. THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO THE SKILL, DEVOTION, AND LEADERSHIP OF THOSE WHO HAVE MANNED THESE VESSELS AND TO THEIR SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND DURING COUNTLESS PATROLS. THIS RECORD OF SUCCESS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED SUPPORT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN OUR SUBMARINES.

4. ON BEHALF OF ALL WHO SERVE IN UNIFORM, CONGRATULATIONS AND A HEARTY "WELL DONE!" TO THE WORLD'S PREEMINENT SUBMARINE FORCE.//