Top Sailor

Sometimes I find the way things are worded in the mainstream media a bit odd. Look at this:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Navy will try to lift some of the burden off U.S. Army troops in Iraq this year by increasing the number of sailors inside that country and taking on duties soldiers have been doing, according to the Navy's top sailor.

The Navy’s "top sailor"? What’s that? Surely, they aren’t talking about an admiral? Well, yes they are:

In a briefing to Pentagon reporters Tuesday, Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the Chief of Naval Operations, said the Navy will start playing a bigger role in Iraq by adding to the 4,000 sailors already operating in the country.

Is calling a Navy admiral a “top sailor” correct? I’ve never heard that term and given the mainstream media’s poor knowledge of all things military I’m guessing no one else has either. But maybe I’m wrong.

The larger issue in this story is kind of frightening: the Army can’t field enough troops so they’re calling in the Navy.

The move is designed to ease the pressure on the stressed and stretched Army in Iraq, which has soldiers doing everything from combat, medical and security duties to countless support operations.

Are we winning yet?