During their 250-year existence, the United States Navy (USN) and the Marine Corps (USMC) have conducted vital peacetime operations around the world. Sailors and marines helped to define a new nation and establish its position among international powers­­—by means of scientific exploration, rescues, humanitarian missions, diplomacy, and the protection of commerce.

While at times these operations involved violence, the primary goal was not to conquer an identified foe in a declared war. Rather, these peacetime actions reflected the belief that a nation’s strength lies not only in its ability to defeat its enemies through military action, but also through its ability to protect its interests, grow and understand its dominion, and build strategic partnerships.

But the sea is unpredictable; bureaucracy can be crippling; and human nature is deeply flawed. For these reasons and more, peacetime naval activities were often anything but Fair Winds and Following Seas.

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Curated by Rachel D’Agostino