As an active duty Sailor, I find this work compelling. As an avid reader, I find this work well-written and compelling. Opening directly into the conflict of the protagonist's life, the internal conflict being reflected in his external world keeps the pages turning. The story itself feels like someone's life and the characters feel like people within that world, almost as if the author is reporting events. That might seem like a simple thing, but it is a testament to the writing.
Alastair Luft