The Naval Brief: RIMPAC’s back; Military life palls; Norfolk’s warning; and more...

Welcome to The Naval Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the sea services’ future.

RIMPAC is back. After the pandemic cut the 2020 version of the world’s largest multinational exercise to about one-third of its usual size, this year’s edition of the Rim of the Pacific event features forces from 26 nations, including 38 warships. Defense One’s Caitlin Kenney reports on the “not about China” (but clearly about China) exercise from the big-deck amphib Essex.

Fewer military families would recommend military life. According to a 2021 survey just released by the Military Family Advisory Network, which conducts research on issues affecting military families, just 62.9 percent of military and veteran families would recommend military life, down from 74.5 percent in 2019. “When we're going through this report and seeing some of the findings and the reality that a lot of families are having a hard time making ends meet, it's not all that startling to see that there will be a decline here,” said president Shannon Razsadin. “But what I was really surprised by was, you know, that it was as big of a decline as it is.” More, here.

Norfolk’s flood-control project nears finish. That accomplishment, important as it is, should also serve as a warning, argues John Conger. The effort to keep rising seas from inundating the world’s largest naval base will take about 10 years from conception to completion—and it represents a tiny fraction of the effort needed to ward off the effects of climate change. It’s past time to get to work on the rest, writes Conger, a former Pentagon comptroller and assistant defense secretary for installations. Read that, here.

Sign up to get The Naval Brief every Thursday from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. Bradley Peniston, Defense One's deputy editor, is filling in this week while Caitlin is on assignment. On July 21, 1944, the U.S. began the recapture of Guam from Japanese forces, landing the 3rd Marine Division, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the Army’s 77th Infantry Division.

From Defense One

At Reborn RIMPAC, A Clear Mission: Deter China, Defend Taiwan // Caitlin M. Kenney

The enormous Pacific multinational exercise and show of force has reemerged from the pandemic to face a larger PLA and more threatening Beijing.

Fewer Military Families Would Recommend Uniformed Service, Survey Finds // Caitlin M. Kenney

The Military Family Advisory Network poll may have warning signs for recruiters.

At UK Airshow, Defense Execs Warn of Inflation, Supply Chains, and Worker Shortages  // Marcus Weisgerber and Bradley Peniston

The Biden administration needs to invest in apprentice schools, CEO of top aerospace and defense firm says. 

A Success in Norfolk Should Also Be a Warning // John Conger

One flood-control project took a decade to complete. Lawmakers and feds can't wait any longer to get the vast bulk of climate-mitigation work going.