It’s not every day you get to hang out in the woods of Germany with the Army’s most senior enlisted war fighter. But as a member of Congress, it has been my experience that the best way to learn the truth is to walk in the same boots as the warriors who live it every day.

Within the chapters of modern history, one nation’s unwavering commitment to strength, peace and prosperity on the world’s stage has stood the test of time — our very own, the United States of America. Our foundation, grounded in maintaining strategic alliances, prioritizing military readiness, and exuding bold strength in times of turmoil, has tamed the flames of chaos across the globe for centuries.

The men and women who commit to serving in our armed forces are the driving force behind our country’s triumph. Our troops, especially those in the enlisted ranks, are the first to confront conflict and defend our way of life.

I would know. At age 18, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an E-1 making $800 a month. My early adulthood was spent supporting missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as I was among the generation of young men and women who fought our nation’s wolves abroad in the global war on terrorism after 9/11.

After 20 years of service and missing one too many birthdays of my six beautiful children, I retired a Navy master chief, E-9, and decided to run for public office. As a veteran turned legislator and the highest enlisted service member to ever walk the halls of Congress, it is not lost on me that the policies we push in Washington directly impact 2 million Americans in our fighting forces. Today, the threats to our nation have evolved as we face a range of challenges from rising authoritarianism, cyber warfare and growing tensions from our adversaries across the world.

The key to war is winning it before it even begins. Be brilliant at the basics — train the way you fight and fight the way you train. When it comes to shaping policy, I have always believed that the best solutions come from those practitioners who are doing the work.

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Europe with Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer for a bird’s eye view into the rigorous training missions headed by the soldiers of the world’s greatest Army. The professionalism and morals during Operation Combined Resolve were top-notch.

As the highest enlisted soldier in the Army, Weimer serves as a critical link between the enlisted ranks and the leadership, overseeing the discipline and welfare of the enlisted men and women within the branch. The days that followed on the ground with Weimer and his soldiers were spent gathering information, feedback and insights on the operations and trainings shaping our defense capabilities.

The way we train to fight and win wars is always changing. New drone technologies, unmanned transport vehicles, and communications systems are among the technological advancements I saw in action while on the ground with our soldiers. While we are working to stay ahead of the curve, we cannot forget that our adversaries are also keeping on pace with us. Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Donaldson shared how during his recent tour in the Middle East his forward operating base was attacked by drones.

Fighting wars stretches beyond individual victories on the battlefield. This is precisely where Washington comes into play.

As Congress works through funding priorities, investing in the next frontier of cutting-edge technologies to advance our warfighting capabilities must be at the top of our priority list. China and Russia are wasting no time fine-tuning their arsenal. Without proper investments within the military technology sphere, even the most dedicated troops will be at a disadvantage.

The advancements we make today will shape the strategic landscape of warfare tomorrow. Cutting-edge innovations enhance our military’s readiness and send a powerful message to our adversaries that we are prepared, vigilant, and capable of confronting any challenge that lies ahead.

Stable funding is certainly a critical element, but nothing is more important to our armed services than having a ready, willing and able lethal fighting force led by a strong noncommissioned officer corps.

Tony Gonzales, a Republican, represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.