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Under Fire: Is U.S. Military Might in Decline?
With geopolitical temperatures rising, some experts are questioning U.S. war readiness.
“The Navy: Dead in the Water?” wondered Brent Ramsey for Real Clear Defense on December 5, 2023.
Captain Brent Ramsey (USN, ret.) first reminded readers of the U.S. Navy’s mission before breaking the bad news: “There are many indicators that the Navy is at increasing risk of mission failure.”
“Mission: The United States is a maritime nation, and the U.S. Navy protects America at sea. Alongside our allies and partners, we defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity, and keep the seas open and free. Our nation is engaged in long-term competition. To defend American interests around the globe, the U.S. Navy must remain prepared to execute our timeless role, as directed by Congress and the President.”
Ramsey next laid out key “indicators that the Navy is at increasing risk of mission failure.”
“Missing recruiting goals by thousands for two years in a row, missing its goal for FY 2023 by over 7000 new recruits,” he revealed. “The impact of missing recruiting goals is cumulative. Its impact does not subside if in subsequent years deficits are not made up. Lack of manpower adds to the strain of a Navy struggling to meet its national priorities overseas.”