Overview
The 26th edition of The Bluejacket’s Manual continues the tradition of previous editions of this iconic work by serving as both an introduction to neophyte U.S. Navy Sailors and as a career-long reference work for all who wear the Blue and Gold. Readers of previous editions will note two significant changes in this latest rendition.
The first recognizes the U.S. Navy’s current emphasis on warfighting. While routine and administrative guidance—such things as uniforms, honors, and ceremonies, pay and benefits, standards of conduct, etc.—remain, this latest edition places greater emphasis on those aspects that Sailors are likely to encounter and must prepare for in the event of combat.
The first chapter is titled and focused on warfighting, reflecting the emphasis on “Warrior Toughness” in the training curriculum at Recruit Training Command (AKA “boot camp”) at Great Lakes, Illinois. Readers will find that this training emphasizes the psychological as well as practical aspects of preparation, providing a kind of “philosophy” that is tailored to Bluejackets who may well find themselves facing the challenges inherent to combat operations. Other chapters in the book—such as Weapons and Damage Control—complement this emphasis.
The second major change to the book is its organization of information. The result is a more user-friendly book
As always, the major purpose of revision is to bring the included information relevant and up to date. Readers will find coverage of those aspects of the Bluejacket’s world that are evolving. Such things as cyberwar and drones are now included with the emphasis on warfighting.
The Bluejacket’s Manual, 26th Edition is a comprehensive yet manageable reference that will continue to serve the needs of the Navy and those who serve.
About the Author
Thomas Cutler
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. His varied assignments included an in-country Vietnam tour, small-craft command, and nine years at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Seamanship & Navigation Department and Associate Chairman of the History Department. Winner of the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Naval Literature, the U.S. Naval Institute Press Author of the Year, and the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Naval History Lifetime Achievement Award, his published works include The Battle of Leyte Gulf and Brown Water, Black Berets: Coastal & Riverine Warfare in Vietnam.
Mark Hacala
Mark T. Hacala served 30 years in uniform, retiring as a Master Chief Hospital Corpsman, and has continued with 12 years of civilian Navy service. He served in combat with the Marines in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 and continued with Marine infantry units for 13 years. Since 2000, he has spoken to over 10,000 Sailors on naval history subjects, including guest lectures at the Naval Academy, Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, and the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy. A graduate of the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in history, he is a prolific writer with dozens of articles in various military publications to his credit. For ten years, he served as Director of History and Education for the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, where he designed historical exhibits of graphics and artifacts, as well as educational programs. Since 2009, he has served as ceremonies specialist and drillmaster for the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard in Washington, DC.
Paul Kingsbury
Paul A. Kingsbury, FLTCM, USN (Ret.), served thirty-one years in the Navy, culminating with his final assignment as the Fleet Master Chief for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. He has published several articles in military journals and received awards in both the U.S. Naval Institute’s General Essay and Enlisted Essay contests. He is the author of Petty Officer’s Guide and a coauthor of the 26th edition of the Bluejacket’s Manual. He is the host and producer of the Cutlass Podcast. He currently serves as the Director of Federal Employee Program Community Relations for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Additional Information
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 712 pages
Illustrations: 167 color plates, 42 figures, 2 maps
Published: April 12, 2023
ISBN-10: 1682478432
ISBN-13: 9781682478431
Product Dimensions: 9 × 6 × 1 in
Product Weight: 44 oz