Today’s U.S. Navy is a massive and complex organisation, with hundreds of ships, thousands of aircraft, hundreds of thousands of people, and an annual budget in the billions of dollars that make it a powerful and important component of the American defence establishment, playing a vital role in maintaining U.S. national security, protecting against enemies in time of war, and guarding economic lifelines and supporting foreign policy in peacetime. Despite its obvious importance, most Americans know very little about their Navy, and learning about it has been a daunting task. Until now.

In ten short chapters, the author reveals such things as the many titles that military people have, the various alphanumeric designations that military personnel use to identify themselves, the organisation of the Navy and the Department of Defense, the origins of such things as saluting, flag etiquette, side boys, and odd language, and an explanation of the many missions of the Navy. Also included is an introduction to the Navy’s colourful history, a primer on the various ships and aircraft that make up today’s fleet, a guide to reading a uniform, and the demystification of such things as the phonetic alphabet and military time.

While not everyone need be an expert on the Navy, there is a middle ground that this book serves by providing a readable, edifying and often entertaining explanation of this important but sometimes mysterious branch of the U.S. armed forces.

About the Author
Thomas J. Cutler is a retired lieutenant commander and former gunner’s mate second class who served in patrol craft, cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers.