1. This Fleet Order on combat readiness is the second in an updated series of U.S. Pacific Fleet Orders. This order defines combat readiness as it applies to the mission of the Pacific Fleet; describes why we must maintain it afloat and ashore; and outlines my expectations for every Professional Sailor and civilian. 

2. Pacific Fleet's first line of effort is to Build and Maintain Combat Ready Forces with the lethality and capability to take the fight to the enemy and WIN. Combat readiness ensures military forces are able to fight and successfully meet the demand of assigned missions. Pacific Fleet's combat readiness is a cornerstone of our national security and critical to deterring our adversaries. It is founded in the professionalism of our Navy, the basis upon which our operational success depends, and represents the resolve - of each and every one of us - to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific and our way of life. 

3. In 1943, at the Commissioning Ceremony for USS JOHNSTON (DD 557), Commanding Officer Ernest E. Evans declared, "This is going to be a fighting ship." The ship prepared for war. Within three months, JOHNSTON was engaged in combat operations off of Kwajalein and Eniwetok and in October 1944, JOHNSTON was defending Leyte Gulf for General MacArthur's landing force at the Battle off Samar. Under a hail of enemy fire from an overwhelming force, CDR Evans and his crew attacked, heavily damaging a myriad of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. They were ready for the fight. The heroic efforts of JOHNSTON's crew broke the enemy's resolve, saved the landing force, and turned the tide from defeat to victory in one of the most important battles of World War II.

4. JOHNSTON was able to perform under fire and attack repeatedly due to her high state of combat readiness. Her crew was well-trained on maintenance and operation of the ship's equipment and casualty control procedures. JOHNSTON's weapons performed as expected and her engines answered all bells. During the battle, while continuing to fight the enemy, her crew restored power to two of three aft gun mounts and the fire control radar in a matter of minutes, while conducting damage control throughout the ship. THEY WERE READY. 

5. Like USS JOHNSTON, today's U.S. Pacific Fleet must be ready to project naval combat power wherever and whenever it is needed. We employ combat power to defend the homeland, protect U.S. interests, deter our adversaries, and demonstrate our commitment to our allies and partners.  Achieving and sustaining excellent combat readiness to support those missions requires a deliberate, professional approach that includes effectively organizing, training, and equipping our personnel; completing timely modernization and maintenance; seamlessly developing and incorporating new capabilities and tactics; and leading your teams. 

6. As proven by USS JOHNSTON during World War II, ownership of your equipment can change the course of history. To maintain combat readiness, do not live with equipment problems--All of our systems, and their redundancy, should work. Equipment degradations rapidly become tactical and operational problems and limit our ability to win the fight. Furthermore as Sailors, we should be able to fix our own equipment. I am counting on the technical rigor of every Sailor to ensure all our systems are correctly set up, maintained, aligned, and ready to meet the enemy. 

7. Combat readiness results from the efforts of every Sailor and civilian in our Fleet.  It is from a broad foundation that we build the combat readiness required to take the fight to any adversary. It includes the bases, places, and nodes where our commands and detachments are stationed; the supply and logistics hubs that support expeditionary resupply and rearmament; the intermediate and depot repair facilities that repair and maximize the lethality of our ships, submarines, and aircraft; the fleet training centers that give us high density, realistic training; and the personnel support centers that care for our most valued asset, our people.  Shore support facilities are the key foundation from which we generate lethal platforms and capable and prepared personnel. 

8. Have the integrity for the fight. It is our duty to have our teams completely prepared for sustained combat at sea. EVERYONE must know exactly how to maintain and employ their weapons system, man their station, and be prepared to continue the fight when the chaos of war is upon them. When you encounter the enemy, you must be mentally and physically prepared and know exactly what to do. 

9. Training never stops. We all must have a combat rehearsal mindset all the time. Ruthlessly execute PPRs and TTPs with such precision and practice they are routine. Continue to push advanced combat concepts and experimentation that create operational and tactical advantage for our naval and joint forces. When you train, integrate completely with the joint force. In combat you don't rise to the level of expectation - you fall to the level of your training. 

10. Your readiness to fight will enable us to WIN. We must not normalize a deviation from the standard of combat excellence and we must work every day to be better than the day before. Combat readiness empowers the entire Pacific Fleet to dominate any fight, defeat any force, and prevail over any  foe. I expect us all to be ready. 

11. ADM Koehler sends.//