quote [ As an active duty officer in a sea command, I ask you, as my appointed leadership, to respectfully decline this request.

Our fleet faces a readiness crisis. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer has said that every readiness question must start with the mention of our 17 dead shipmates on the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and Fitzgerald (DDG-62), and this proposed movement of people, parts, and equipment must be considered through the same lens. ]