What symptom shows that something is deeply wrong with a navy?
Short answerWhen promotion goes only to compliant officers and not to people willing to question power.
NotesA systemic warning sign matters more than a single failed ship or operation. Healthy organizations need officers who can challenge senior assumptions and expose problems before they become disasters. When promotion consistently excludes those people, the service loses internal correction. Advancing only compliant voices therefore indicates that institutional loyalty has displaced professional judgment.