Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro published his new strategic guidance in October. The Navy’s goals are the same as they ever were. (U.S. Air National Guard /Ryan Campbell)
WASHINGTON: One song comes to my mind when I consider what 2021 has meant for the US Navy: “Once in a Lifetime,” by the Talking Heads. The famous refrain from that tune being: “Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.”
Before I dwell on that thought, a confession. I came to Breaking Defense during the summer, but prior to that I had taken a hiatus from the Navy beat to report on cybersecurity. While that meant I wasn’t paying quite as much attention to the Pentagon for the first several months of 2021, it did give me the chance to return to this beat with fresh eyes. When I returned, my discussions with sources and others mostly amounted to catching up on issues.
That brings me back to the Talking Heads. As I understand it, “Once in a Lifetime” is primarily about how we go through the motions of daily life without always questioning why we do what we do. We end up with a “large automobile” or “a beautiful house” because that is society’s expectation, but did we need or want either of those things?
[This article is one of many in a series in which Breaking Defense reporters look back on the most significant (and entertaining) news stories of 2021 and look forward to what 2022 may hold.]
None of this is to suggest the Navy or Marine Corps is ..
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