From the days of oars and coal-fired engines to the computerized era of the 21st century, The Bluejacket's Manual has been an essential part of a sailor's sea bag for over one hundred years, serving as an introduction to the Navy for new recruits and as a reference book for all ranks.

Written by a sailor whose decades of naval service included sea duty in patrol craft, destroyers, and aircraft carriers as both an officer and a"white hat," this newest edition has been overhauled to reflect the current state of the ever-evolving United States Navy, adding such things as camouflage uniforms, new ratings (occupational specialities), and the Navy Professional Reading Program.

The US military's complex organizational structure is explained in layman's terms, the new Maritime Strategy is reflected in the chapter on naval heritage, and two new chapters cover medical matters and first aid in greater detail. Coverage includes ships and aircraft, uniforms, weapons, damage control, communications, navigation, boats, naval customs and ceremonies, education and training, security, leadership, pay and benefits, naval missions, military fundamentals, duty assignments and advancements, and seamanship, as well as a chronology of naval history and a glossary of terms and abbreviations.

From tying knots to the fundamentals of complex missile systems to finding one's way around an aircraft carrier, this latest edition of a perennial classic is a comprehensive guide to today's Navy. Primarily intended to serve today's"Bluejackets", this new version of a long-standing tradition is packed with much information that will be welcomed by potential recruits, Navy buffs, and a growing number of Bluejacket Manual collectors.