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The article features personal accounts of sea service life members such as Cmdr. Michael Amedick; Monique B. Kimani; and Cmdr. Priti Bhatnagar. Topics include considered that several members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine stated that what motivates them to serve, how they came to do what they do, and what their service and respective professions mean to them, professionally and personally.

Focuses on the revival of maritime interest of the United States. Comparison with Great Britain's sea power; Factors that contributed to the decay of the American merchant marine; Comment of the conservatives and liberals about the building of a large navy; Naval supremacy of Great Britain; Need to have treaties with Great Britain to guarantee the freedom of the seas to the American merchant marine.

The article discusses China's shift in focus from land to naval power. It states that China has progressed in global shipbuilding markets, merchant marine expansion, its up-to-date navy, and a broad scope of its offshore energy and mineral exploration. It provides an overview of the country's history in relation to its struggles against the British, French, Japanese, and Russians. It also notes the susceptibility of China's land borders to invaders hence the country has focused on the development of its armies.

Outlines the development of the Naval Ship Code (NSC). International Maritime Organization's ratification of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), a safety convention for merchant ships; Effects that NSC may have on naval shipbuilding; Possible consequences for the navies.

The article reports that the global sea-based trading system is turning us into a single world society, and naval forces such as this U.S. SH-60F Seahawk from the carrier George Washington (CVN-73) are central to that system's defense. The system essentially is transnational. Typically, a merchant ship is owned by one shifting international conglomeration, insured by another; the cargo is owned by a third; and the crew comes from all over. When it is attacked, it is hard to tell who is being hurt beyond the crew. It may seem curious to expect state-based entities such as individual navies to protect other people's property, especially when it is not easy to tell who those "other" people are.

In a recent number of the journal "Fortnightly Review," there appeared an article upon the growth of the German merchant marine. It is well worth the attention of all who are concerned with the development of U.S. mercantile fleet, since in the means taken to increase the number of ships flying the German flag there are several lessons which the American ship owners could study with profit. Primarily, Germany has not hampered her commercial navy by any restrictive laws forbidding the purchase of vessels abroad, as is the case in the United States.

The article offers information related to the distinct uniforms of the U.S. Marine Corps, which has a long history of wearing the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on their uniforms. It is mentioned that both the Navy Uniform Board (NUB) and Navy Uniform Matters Office (NUMO) are included in the Navy management. It is stated that to present a uniform image world-wide is the one purpose of Navy Uniform Regulations.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Payments to WWII Merchant Marines," which is a Washington Report in the August 2007 issue, "Legislate and Educate," by Amy Wittman, that points that predatory lending is a problems to the military, in the September 2007 issue and "Acquisition Hurdles" in the October 2007 issue.

Two letters to the editor are presented in response to article previous issue including "Newest NLUS Council Focuses on Support of Merchant Marine" in the February 2007 and about meeting Rear Admiral Grace Hopper.

Discusses the tradeoffs in being a sailor. Parallel development of navies and maritime commerce; Benefits of an able Navy; Being away from one's family.