In his book of memoirs, Vladimir Nikolaevich Pykov, captain 1st rank, commander of five ships of the Northern Fleet, talks about the ways in which he came to serve in the Navy. About studying at the naval school, he analyzes how cadets were trained, what was missing, how to build relationships with subordinates, about his mentors, colleagues, about the acceptance of ships on which he served as commander, about combat training of crews and much more. These records contain his joys and sorrows of becoming a commander, ups and downs, and most importantly, loyalty to service. The book is of interest both to veterans of the Navy and to those who are just planning to connect their fate with service in the navy.