their  position.  The  Navy  continues  to  improve  its p r o p u l s i o n   s y s t e m s .   T h e   N av y ’s   c o n t i n u e d improvements  in  propulsion  systems  allow  Trident submarines to operate undetected beneath the oceans. The newer, faster, and quieter fast-attack submarines prowl the oceans at will. These ships have added a new dimension to the world of undersea warfare. We have m a d e   g r e a t   s t r i d e s   i n   u n d e r wa t e r   a c o u s t i c s , oceanography, and other scientific fields. Throughout history, the shores of the enemy and the range of our ship’s guns have limited the Navy’s radius of action. Now with the development of long-range aircraft  and  ballistic  missiles,  the  Navy’s  radius  of action spans the world. In the past, when ships sailed in a task force, they traveled  together  in  formation.  However,  that  tactic increased the number of losses during an attack. Today, ships are dispersed over a wide area, which increases their chances of survival in the event of a nuclear attack. Although the tactics of our fleets have changed, the meaning of sea power and the need for sea power have remained constant. The Navy will always seek positive change,  using  weapons  dictated  by  the  times  and situation, to protect our nation from enemy invasion. America’s sea power will play a vital part in tomorrow’s world and will have a great influence on peace. Our nation and the other countries of our world rely on the U.S. Navy to guard their liberties. We must continue to guard these liberties as an instrument of peace, not as an instrument of terror or offensive threat. We  must  join  with  other  free  nations  in  promoting freedom throughout the world. THE U.S. NAVY’S MISSION Today, the Navy, together with the Army and the Air  Force,  is  a  member  of  the  National  Military Establishment.  Their  mission  is  to  be  prepared  to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations in support of the national interest. As part of the National Military Establishment, the U.S. Navy’s mission is to assure continued maritime superiority for the United States. The National Security Act, passed by Congress in 1947, instituted the National Military Establishment. The aim of the National Military Establishment is the coordination of the security of the United States under the Secretary of Defense. You have an important part to play in the mission of the Navy. Your responsibility grows as you advance in rate. Before you start to take on that responsibility, you should be familiar with certain terms so that you can fully understand the mission of the Navy. They are national  strategy,  national  interests,  and  national objectives,  as  stated  in  Naval  Warfare  Publication 1  (NWP-1).  Naval  Warfare  Publication  3  (NWP-3) defines naval strategy. Those publications outline our commitment to the security of the United States. National Strategy National strategy is that broad course of action designed to achieve national objectives in support of national interests. To satisfy that objective, the defense forces must have the capability to deter aggression and to  prevent  coercion.  They  must  also  have  enough influence  to  shape  world  events  in  favor  of  U.S. interests. The United States maintains its defense forces to preserve its physical security and protect its political independence. National Interests National  interests  are  conditions  that  are  to  the advantage of our nation to pursue or protect. These conditions frequently are of a continuing nature. They range from the ultimate interest—national survival—to specific regional interests. Collectively, those interests determine the importance of a particular region to the security of the United States. National Objectives National objectives are specific goals our nation seeks to advance, support, or protect. We primarily have political, economic, and security objectives. Naval Strategy Naval strategy is our nation’s use of naval forces (including naval aviation and Marine Corps forces) to achieve  its  naval  objectives.  National  strategy determines  our  naval  objectives.  Our  overall  naval strategy objective is control of the seas and the denial of 20-6 Student Notes: