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So far, we have moved from the visible—the hypersonics, drones, and strike systems—to the invisible, where electronic warfare and lasers dominate. But war is not just about missiles, signals, and combat vehicles. It is also about what keeps societies running. Infrastructure is both the target and the weapon in modern conflict.

 Water Systems: Lifeblood Under Threat

History shows us how water can shape the outcome of war. In World War II, dams were prime targets. In the future, they will be again. Hoover Dam in the U.S. and the Three Gorges Dam in China are both obvious points of vulnerability. Destroying either would cause massive flooding, killing millions and crippling entire regions.

But it is not just the large dams. Local water treatment plants, suburban pumping stations, and urban filtration systems are largely unguarded. A single act of sabotage—physical or cyber—could poison supplies, create panic, and paralyze communities. For retirees living in planned 55+ communities, this is not abstract. It is as simple as asking: what happens if the tap runs dry?

 Power Grids and Energy Dependence

The U.S. power grid is an interconnected web, and with interconnection comes vulnerability. A cyberattack on one node can cascade across regions. We saw this in 2021 when ransomware crippled the Colonial Pipeline, creating fuel shortages along the East Coast. Imagine that on a national scale, during a conflict with China or Russia.

Meanwhile, adversaries will target our reliance on energy imports, while we will target theirs. Without electricity, modern economies grind to a halt—factories stop, communications fail, and morale collapses. In warfare, turning out the lights can be more disruptive than dropping a bomb.

 Food and Supply Chains

Every war in history has been won or lost on logistics. Today, food distribution is globalized, just-in-time, and fragile. Container ships carry grain, protein, and packaged goods across oceans. If those ships are blocked, sunk, or diverted, grocery shelves empty within days.

For China, which imports massive amounts of protein, a naval blockade would cause riots almost immediately. For America, the risk is different: our food production is strong domestically, but our distribution relies on trucking, rail, and processing plants that are easy targets for disruption.

 Communications as a Weapon

Finally, communication systems—satellites, fiber lines, cell towers—are now as critical as water or food. Wars of the past could be fought with messengers and radios. Wars of the present cannot. If GPS is jammed, drones fall from the sky. If satellites are blinded, command structures collapse. If cell networks are disrupted, panic spreads faster than truth.

For the Army, this is why billions are being invested in resilient networks, hardened satellites, and anti-jamming technologies. For retirees, it is a reminder: communications must be consistent, clear, and reliable. Without that, everything else falls apart.

 CAMELOT: A Framework for Structural Resilience

This brings us to the philosophy we use in our planning. I call it CAMELOT: Common sense, Advice, Management, Education, Logic, Organization, and Technology.

Why does this matter here? Because infrastructure resilience is about structural integrity. Nations that survive crises are those that apply common sense, organize logically, manage resources, and use technology wisely. Retirees who build their financial castles with the same principles—layered, organized, and fortified—are the ones who withstand shocks and continue forward.

The Army builds CAMELOT on the battlefield. We build CAMELOT in your portfolio.

 The Investor’s Perspective

Here is why all of this ties directly back to the Military Procurement Portfolio. The companies that produce grid protection systems, cybersecurity solutions, satellite constellations, drone defenses, and hardened communication platforms are the same companies that fuel your portfolio’s resilience. These are not short-term bets; they are long-term, contract-driven investments designed to generate steady returns while providing national security.

Just as infrastructure warfare strikes at the heart of a nation, infrastructure investing strikes at the heart of a retiree’s peace of mind. By holding equities in the firms that build and protect these systems, you create a parallel resilience for yourself.

 Looking Ahead

In our next section, we will pivot from infrastructure to economic warfare and supply chain control, examining how tariffs, semiconductors, and raw materials like rare earths are used as weapons. Because in today’s world, a blockade on chips can be as devastating as a blockade on oil.

So think again. Look at the systems you rely on—water, food, power, communication—and ask: if those were disrupted, would you have the resilience to endure? The Army is preparing. The nation is preparing. The question is: are you?