Ward does an incredible job painting a realistic picture of life in the USN. He masterfully blends various aspects of war; technical and tactical expertise, infighting, alcohol abuse, twisted humor, depression, and the deep bonds developed between servicemen and women. Ward captures the struggles of ships force politics and power dynamics between officers, including those with the enlisted, and the challenges sailors and soldiers face attempting to maintain relationships with their significant others over long deployments across vast distances, often with limited contact. Bravo Zulu, Mooch!