The Navy neglects service colleges to its detriment.
The key factor for success in wars at sea is not the quality of materiel but the human element. These wars are won or lost at the operational and strategic - not tactical - levels. Hence it is critical to educate and train future naval commanders and their staffs in all aspects of the theory and practice of operational warfare at sea. The U.S. Navy should have unwavering focus on operational leadership and warfighting. In terms of materiel, tactical proficiency, and the quality of its Sailors, the Navy today is undoubtedly far superior to any potential major adversary. Yet it remains obsessed with technology and tactics, as illustrated by its almost uncritical embrace of network-centric warfare and the effects-based approach to operations.
