Never before has the individual character of the American Sailor and Marine weighed so heavily on the calculus of potential conflict. For all the intrinsic excellence of our technology, experience demonstrates that its successful employment in battle continues to depend upon the integrity, courage, commitment, and professional excellence of those called upon to bring it to bear in defense of freedom. With ruthless efficiency and finality, the awesome violence of modern warfare distinguishes forces filled with these attributes from those rendered hollow by their absence. Unlike previous conflicts in our history, technology no longer permits us the luxury of awaiting the first battle to determine whether our forces are ready. The pace of conflict will afford us little, if any, chance to profit from our mistakes.

Military systems, which often operate under extreme duress, are built on a foundation of absolute trust and fidelity. Midshipmen do not learn this when they get to the fleet; they take it with them to the fleet.