In October, both the U.S. Naval Institute and the U.S. Navy commemorate their birthdays. For the Naval Institute, it is our 130th year serving the nation, its armed services and service members, and the citizenry. With the capability and future of the Navy in question in the post-Civil War era, a group of 15 officers gathered on 9 October 1873 at the Naval Academy for the first meeting for this professional association, which has since provided an open forum to advance the understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national security. Today, the officers, enlisted service members, and civilians who make up our membership are the legacy of that original group, and this magazine and our books, seminars, and other products and services continue the tradition of professional education and debate. The members and staff of the Naval Institute are proud of our naval heritage and the role we have had in shaping the naval services, and we salute all those who serve and have served in the U.S. Navy as you commemorate the 1775 founding of your great institution.
The Bluejacket's Manual" and to ask for advice "about a few things about my future in the Navy." Tom was scheduled to visit Rear Admiral Ann Rondeau, Commander, Naval Service Training Command, to discuss upcoming revisions of the BJM and to explore other topics of mutual interest, including the forthcoming Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy and a Newly Commissioned Officer's Guide, so he asked to meet Seaman Recruit Bruggeman to answer his questions in person. The staff at Recruit Training Command readily agreed and a very surprised sailor and four of his company-mates had lunch with Tom in the mess hall, where they discussed their futures in the Navy. Tom was impressed by the questions the young sailors asked, noting a level of sophistication unknown to him when he was a seaman recruit at Great Lakes in the summer of 1965.Second, in the lead letter in this month's "Comment and Discussion," Chief Jim Murphy, responding to Master Chief Delta Hinson's call for the chiefs to get more involved with the Naval Institute and enter the open forum, encourages the "Naval Institute to undertake an enlisted-oriented membership drive." As a first step, we are adopting and building on Chief Murphy's recommendation, offering enlisted professionals three free months of membership. There will be more to this program, but for now, see the ad on page 127.
In our continuing efforts to broaden the Naval Institute's editorial scope, we are pleased to announce the publication this month of United States Army at War: 9/11 through Iraq, with a foreword by General Tommy R. Franks, U.S. Army (Retired). This project is part of our ongoing cooperation with the Association of the United States Army. Also on the jointness front, we are pleased to publish the winners this month of the Armed Forces Joint Warfighting Essay Contest, sponsored by Boeing.