If you are a Navy captain who has worked for 24 hours straight and needs to go to sleep, so you entrust the ship to a highly capable first mate in harsh conditions, and he runs the ship aground—which is clearly not your fault—they won’t send you to a military tribunal, but your naval career is over.

The Navy’s culture certainly encourages people to be completely focused in adverse environments—because they know that if something goes wrong, there will be absolutely no forgiveness.

Napoleon said he preferred luckier generals—he wouldn’t support a defeated commander. Similarly, the Navy prefers luckier captains.

Regardless of why your ship ran aground, your career is over anyway. No one is interested in your mistake (the reason). That is the Navy’s rule—and from every angle, it is good for everyone.