War Message From USNA Supe to Midshipmen

Message from the USNA Superintendent Lt. General Michael Borgschulte, USNA ’91, to Naval Academy Midshipmen on February 28:

Brigade of Midshipmen,

As you have seen in the news, our Joint Force has begun military operations against Iran. For decades, Iran has waged a proxy war against American forces and our partners across the Middle East.

The events now unfolding are historic. They are consequential. And they demand serious reflection from all of us.

For some of your company mates who have only recently graduated, this is no longer theoretical. It is not a case study. It is not a classroom discussion.

It is real.

They are likely participating in these operations today, standing watch, flying sorties, leading Sailors and Marines, executing missions on behalf of our great country. They are carrying the weight of decisions that matter.

Soon enough, that responsibility will be yours. This moment should sharpen your perspective.

The fate of nations, the stability of regions, and the lives of your fellow Americans are not abstract ideas. They rest in the hands of officers who are competent, disciplined, and morally grounded.

The fate of the Iranian people, like so many populations caught under regimes that choose hostility over peace, will ultimately be shaped in part by how professionally and decisively American forces conduct themselves.

You’ve heard me talk about warfighting and our focus on it. What you are seeing in the news is an example of why we must be ready.

Warfighting is not a slogan. It is the core purpose of our Navy and Marine Corps.

It requires intellectual rigor in the classroom, physical toughness on the field, and professional seriousness in every training evolution.

It requires leaders who understand history, technology, human behavior, and the moral weight of command.

It requires officers who can think clearly under pressure and act decisively in uncertainty.

This is not a time for distraction. It is not a time for complacency. It is a time… to double down.

Double down academically, master your disciplines. Whether you study engineering, cyber, political science, or literature, your ability to think critically will shape your effectiveness in combat.

Double down athletically, physical resilience underpins combat effectiveness. The demands placed on junior officers in operational units are unrelenting.

Double down professionally, treat every formation, every brief, every watch, and every leadership opportunity as preparation for the day when the stakes are real.

Our mission remains clear: to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue you with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty.

Those ideals are not ornamental. They are operational necessities.

History does not ask whether we feel ready. It simply arrives.