Administrative  Inspection Type  commanders  normally  perform  annual ADMINISTRATIVE  INSPECTIONS.  They  hold these  inspections  to  ensure  ships  follow  correct record  setup  and  administrative  procedures.  These inspections  give  the  greatest  attention  to  the  ship’s planned  maintenance  system  (PMS). Board of Inspection and Survey  (INSURV) Based on Navy  Regulations,  the  BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY (INSURV) examines each naval ship at least once every 3 years,  if  practical.  The  inspection  determines  the ship’s  material  condition;  if  found  unfit  for continued service, the ship must report to higher authority.  Higher  authority  schedules  these inspections without the knowledge of the com- manding officer.   However, the commanding officer  may  request  an  INSURV  through  official channels  when  needed.  Other  duties  of  the  board of inspection and survey include the following: 1.  Conduct  acceptance  trials  and  inspections of all ships and service craft before their acceptance  for  naval  service. 2.  Conduct  acceptance  trials  and  inspections of one or more aircraft of each type or model  before  final  acceptance  for  naval service. 3.  Perform  such  other  inspections  and  trials of naval ships, service craft, and aircraft as directed by the Chief of Naval Opera- tions. EXERCISES Our  naval  forces  conduct  various  exercises with  our  allies  throughout  the  year.  These exercises   reinforce   and   demonstrate   the professionalism  of  the  various  navies  to  operate together  in  a  sophisticated  environment  against a  three-dimensional  threat.  They  may  be  large- or  small-scale  exercises.  Some  take  as  long  as  2 years to plan. One recent NATO exercise consisted of  more  than  160  ships,  250  aircraft,  and approximately  7,000  ground  force  personnel  from 10 countries. Through the various treaties and pacts the United States has entered into, we are committed  to  the  defense  of  half  the  land  areas of  the  world.  Without  sea  power  to  keep  the  lines of communications open and supply our allies, we  cannot  keep  our  commitment  to  these  treaties. Conducting military exercises with our allies sends a signal to our adversaries that we can keep these commitments. SUMMARY The mission of our Navy is to be prepared to conduct  prompt,  sustained  combat  operations  at sea  in  support  of  the  national  interests  of  the United  States.  Today’s  Navy  must  meet  any  type of  aggression,  from  the  most  primitive  to  the  most sophisticated. Our basic national security objective is to preserve the United States as a free nation with its basic institutions and values intact. This objective  depends  upon  our  ability  to  deter aggression,  to  prevent  coercion,  and  to  influence international  affairs  from  a  position  of  recognized strength  and  credibility.  It  also  depends  upon  our ability to fight when necessary and to terminate conflict  on  terms  compatible  with  U.S.  national security   interests. Fleet  ballistic  missile  submarines  (nuclear propulsion)  must  be  capable  of  delivering  ballistic missile  attacks  against  assigned  targets.  The  SSBN force,  as  part  of  the  TRIAD,  is  a  strong  deterrent against nuclear attack because of its ability to retaliate with highly capable missiles. The  ability  of  U.S.  naval  forces  to  survive  and accomplish  their  mission  depends  on  their offensive powers. They must be able to destroy or neutralize hostile forces routinely present in the theater  of  operations  or  which  represent  a  threat within that theater. They must be able to project power  ashore  by  gunfire,  missiles,  carrier-based aircraft,  and  amphibious  landings.  Our  forces must  use  each  of  these  elements  effectively  to achieve and maintain sea control and to support allied  forces  or  U.S.  land-based  forces  ashore. Naval warfare is a conflict in which at least one of the opponents is operating from the sea with surface ships, submarines, or sea-based aircraft. The objective of naval warfare is to exploit  the  strengths  and  minimize  the  weaknesses of air, subsurface, and surface forces. By combin- ing  all  the  elements  of  our  naval  forces,  the  Navy is fully capable of meeting a multidimensional threat in all three warfare areas. Research,  development,  test,  and  evaluation programs  allow  the  United  States  to  field affordable and reliable weapons systems to meet any threat facing the nation today. Without these  programs  and  the  technological  superiority 1-21