To help celebrate 125 years as the sea services "premier forum for thoughtful dialogue, " the Naval Institute asked some of its members and readers to answer the question: What does the Naval Institute mean to you as a person and/or to the military profession? Throughout the anniversary year, we have published some of these testimonials that we have been delighted to receive.
Admiral James M. Loy, U.S. Coast Guard
Every professional community needs one forum capable of sustaining an efficient market in ideas. The forum must be fair and open, must preserve an objectivity that permits ideas to rise or fall on their own merit, and must attract contributors from the first rank of theoreticians and practitioners within the community. I have consistently found Proceedings to be the best vehicle for presenting my ideas to the greatest number of my most respected colleagues.
The Naval Institute's thoughtful publications on history, personal commentary, current events, strategic planning, and leadership have long been a part of my professional library. In particular, the Classics of Naval Literature series has become a personal treasure trove. But greater than the value the Naval Institute gives to its readers is the benefit that accrues to its contributors. I encourage my officers to throw themselves into the rough and tumble of public discourse framed by Proceedings. The task of organizing thoughts, examining raw opinions, and committing refined ideas to paper where they will endure the scrutiny of one's peers is an exercise in self-discipline worthy of any seagoing officer. Writing for Proceedings has been an important element of my own professional development.
Admiral Loy is the 21st Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rear Admiral William J. Holland, U. S. Navy (Retired)
Argument is at the heart of growth of ideas; the Naval Institute has performed some of its best service when the arguments aired have not been congruent to current service policy That the arguments may be wrong or pig-headed is less important than that they are focused, logical, and direct. Until opened and examined, one cannot be sure of the issues or their merits (unless, of course, the argument proposes that the United States buy biplanes or conventionally powered submarines).
No organization can claim to be professional without a formal means to communicate ideas and opinions through and among the body of members. The quality of this communication is indicative of the intellectual vitality of the organization as well as its morale. At the same time, no organization can endure and prosper without continually refreshing its knowledge of past successes and failures. It is from these lessons that the institutional traditions have meaning and utility.
Any organization without a little chaos is dead, and the Naval Institute provides one of the best tools for creating and maintaining some disorder, debate, and argument within the naval services. Proceedings in particular provides a forum in which every level of the organization is able to contribute and participate. That wide participation as much as the variety and quality of argument is a source of pride to the members of the profession and the envy of every other service.
Admiral Holland, a career submariner, recently retired as the President of the AFCEA Educational Foundation.