Administrative Inspection Type commanders normally perform annual ADMINISTRATIVE INSPECTIONS. They hold these inspections to ensure ships follow correct record setup and administrative procedures. These inspections give the greatest attention to the ship’s planned maintenance system (PMS). Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) Based on Navy Regulations, the BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV) examines each naval ship at least once every 3 years, if practical. The inspection determines the ship’s material condition; if found unfit for continued service, the ship must report to higher authority. Higher authority schedules these inspections without the knowledge of the com- manding officer.   However, the commanding officer may request an INSURV through official channels when needed. Other duties of the board of inspection and survey include the following: 1. Conduct acceptance trials and inspections of all ships and service craft before their acceptance for naval service. 2. Conduct acceptance trials and inspections of one or more aircraft of each type or model before final acceptance for naval service. 3. Perform such other inspections and trials of naval ships, service craft, and aircraft as directed by the Chief of Naval Opera- tions. EXERCISES Our naval forces conduct various exercises with our allies throughout the year. These exercises  reinforce  and  demonstrate  the professionalism of the various navies to operate together in a sophisticated environment against a three-dimensional threat. They may be large- or small-scale exercises. Some take as long as 2 years to plan. One recent NATO exercise consisted of more than 160 ships, 250 aircraft, and approximately 7,000 ground force personnel from 10 countries. Through the various treaties and pacts the United States has entered into, we are committed to the defense of half the land areas of the world. Without sea power to keep the lines of communications open and supply our allies, we cannot keep our commitment to these treaties. Conducting military exercises with our allies sends a signal to our adversaries that we can keep these commitments. SUMMARY The mission of our Navy is to be prepared to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea in support of the national interests of the United States. Today’s Navy must meet any type of aggression, from the most primitive to the most sophisticated. Our basic national security objective is to preserve the United States as a free nation with its basic institutions and values intact. This objective depends upon our ability to deter aggression, to prevent coercion, and to influence international affairs from a position of recognized strength and credibility. It also depends upon our ability to fight when necessary and to terminate conflict on terms compatible with U.S. national security  interests. Fleet ballistic missile submarines (nuclear propulsion) must be capable of delivering ballistic missile attacks against assigned targets. The SSBN force, as part of the TRIAD, is a strong deterrent against nuclear attack because of its ability to retaliate with highly capable missiles. The ability of U.S. naval forces to survive and accomplish their mission depends on their offensive powers. They must be able to destroy or neutralize hostile forces routinely present in the theater of operations or which represent a threat within that theater. They must be able to project power ashore by gunfire, missiles, carrier-based aircraft, and amphibious landings. Our forces must use each of these elements effectively to achieve and maintain sea control and to support allied forces or U.S. land-based forces ashore. Naval warfare is a conflict in which at least one of the opponents is operating from the sea with surface ships, submarines, or sea-based aircraft. The objective of naval warfare is to exploit the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of air, subsurface, and surface forces. By combin- ing all the elements of our naval forces, the Navy is fully capable of meeting a multidimensional threat in all three warfare areas. Research, development, test, and evaluation programs allow the United States to field affordable and reliable weapons systems to meet any threat facing the nation today. Without these programs and the technological superiority 1-21