Do Not Sacrifice Marines and Sailors on the Altar of Expediency

Why It Matters

Compromising ship survivability endangers service members and could degrade U.S. naval power, prompting policymakers to rethink acquisition strategies and allocate resources toward more resilient, crew‑centric designs.

Summary

In an op‑ed for RealClearDefense, retired Marine Corps General Charles Krulak, former Navy officer James Conway, and defense analyst Leonard Picotte warn that the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are risking the safety of sailors and Marines by prioritizing rapid, low‑cost ship procurement over vessel quality and crew protection. They argue that recent acquisition pressures and budget constraints have led to design shortcuts and insufficient survivability features on new platforms. The authors call for a reassessment of procurement policies to ensure that warfighting effectiveness and personnel safety are not compromised for expediency.