Over the past twenty years, more than 15,000 members of the U.S. armed forces have died in on-duty mishaps - compared with fewer than 1,000 killed by enemy action. But when such accidents occur, the military imposes a rigid code of silence. Commanders task subordinates, who are often unfamiliar with accident investigation procedures, to investigate these tragedies behind closed doors. This dysfunctional process almost guarantees that the mishap victims themselves are found to be at fault. Overlooked, and therefore uncorrected, problems soon lead to additional tragedies. From an expert who observed the system from the inside, Silent Knights reveals some of the military's best-kept secrets. Diehl explains the complex causes of military accidents in layman's terms and helps readers understand the dangers of undervaluing safety, health, ergonomics, and training in the military. He describes how cover-ups have long caused countless deaths and wasted billions of dollars while degrading defense effectiveness.