Improving readiness: Preventive maintenance of the human operating system that drives readiness and lethality

Abstract

Improving the readiness and lethality of the U.S. fighting forces has always been a key priority, and it received renewed emphasis in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017. A major rearrangement of the Defense Health Agency and the Military Health System is ongoing with this emphasis. Although revising features to improve our military health service is essential, the health, well-being, and readiness of our people will also rely on the culture created at the Command level where soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians operate daily. In alignment with our military health care community and in support of our renewed emphasis on warfighting readiness, USS Missouri began a journey to address foundational mindset that drives the core behaviors, training, and procedures of the submarine force and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Principles leading to enhanced readiness, resilience, and accountability.