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Archive for the 'Naval Institute' Category
We have lost a truly great one. Military Historian and analyst Sir John Keegan, OBE, has died at the age of 78.
The Telegraph announced the death of this nonpareil author and military historian. No serious student of the Profession of Arms should fail to read Keegan's seminal work, The Face of Battle, nor many of his other numerous and superlative works, including The First World War, The Second World War, Six Armies at Normandy, and The Price of Admiralty.
Keegan's genius in explaining the incomprehensible, warfare, at all its levels, was simply remarkable. His was a once-in-a-century intellect, and he shall be missed.
Russia has been increasing the reach of its navy in recent years, sending warships further afield as part of an effort to restore pride project power in a world dominated by the U.S. military.
That throws a wrench in our Maritime Strategy, it would seem. Or does it? What should our reaction be, militarily? And what, diplomatically? Should there be any?
It seems that USNS Rappahannock has fired on a small craft that ignored warnings and closed with her in the Persian Gulf. From the NBC News article:
The crew aboard the Navy ship sent out repeated warnings, including radio calls, flashing lights, lasers and ultimately warning shots from a 50-caliber machine gun. When the boat failed to heed the warnings, the crew was ordered to open fire with the 50-caliber gun.
It will be critically important that US civilian and military leadership emphasizes the above, and plasters images and accounts of USS Cole all over the news immediately and persistently for the next several weeks. We should be very proactive in letting the world know that there is a terror threat to US warships and auxiliaries posed by small craft, and any such vessel that ignores the warnings as were summarized above will be fired upon and destroyed.
We mustn't begin the oh-so familiar course of meekly apologizing for having to kill those who threaten us. If we do, we will see many more actions such as this, likely designed to cause us to fit ourselves for ever-tighter handcuffs and more restrictive rules of engagement in combat on land and sea, which the enemy will use to increasing advantage to exploit his strengths and our weaknesses. On the contrary, we must be firm and aggressive with our reaction to the incident. Actions without strong narrative are subject to interpretation.
If the United States, and in particular the United States Navy, has any sense of true 'strategic messaging", we will let the rest of the world know that, should another small craft ignore similar warnings, it, too, will be fired upon. And any death or injury that results from such incidents is the responsibility of those who willfully ignore the warnings, and on those who likely have sent them.
This post is part of a group covering a Lockheed Martin media event for the F-35 Lightning II. For an analysis of the fighter's potential as an unmanned aircraft, visit news.usni.org. For my discussion of the Joint Strike Fighter as an international acquisitions program, visit the NextWar blog at the Center for International Maritime Security.
The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, has seemed to be the third rail of defense acquisitions. The aircraft program's costs and operational role have been thoroughly discussed both here and elsewhere. When USNI kindly offered me the opportunity to represent them at a Lockheed Martin event, I felt daunted by the volumes of ink spilled to date on the subject. But, I think the JSF program as suffered from polemic coverage and needs some measured commentary. I learned a lot and hope this knowledge serves as an antidote to the vitriol surrounding this aircraft:
- Whatever its costs and however well the F-35 does or does not fit American strategic and operational interests, nobody says it isn't an impressive aircraft in its own right. This is a point worth saying out loud. At one point, we were shown infrared video from a test flight. We could see on the camera an outline of a Joint Strike Fighter on the tarmac – that was the place where the aircraft was parked 45 minutes before. The F-35 could sense the difference in solar heating of the runway caused by the aircraft's shadow after that amount of time – incredible! While I think President Eisenhower's statements on the military-industrial complex are worth heeding, America and its partners are pioneering impressive new technologies to increase our military capabilities. The bottom line: how can we best leverage the capabilities of the F-35 in a continually evolving threat environment? And how can we use technologies pioneered in this program to support other platforms? Answering these questions would allow the United States to recoup more of its significant investments in this program.
- Lockheed was open to discussing the different cost estimates of the program. I was expecting to have a certain figure placed in front of me. But Sam Grizzle, Lockheed's Director of Communications for Aviation, admitted on the subject of costs that "other folks may come up with a different number." This transparency impressed me. Further, Lockheed employed an interesting defense of the JSF program's cost. We often compare the JSF to other acquisition programs in the present or to similar ones of the past. Essentially, they argued that you would have to compare the JSF program to whatever alternative DoD would have pursued (each service independently pursuing different strike fighters, for example). It's difficult to prove a negative – so we ultimately can't know whether a different program might have been a better alternative. I can think of many counter-arguments to this line of reasoning, but they only made my head hurt. Ultimately, people with differing views on the cost of the program will continue to circle each other in a rhetorical dogfight, but the aircraft is in production and so I think that discussion is moot for those in uniform. Our civilian government will make financial choices to meet our national priorities. A very interesting dialogue does remain, however, on how the aircraft will be employed, and this is where we as a community can contribute – Galrahn has some interesting thoughts on the JSF as a command and control platform and I wrote a piece on unmanned JSF's for news.usni.org.
- Many have noted that the Navy's F-35C has a single engine like all other variants – at first blush, this lack of redundancy would give me pause if I were alone over the ocean at night. But the F-35's engine is shrouded as a stealth measure. I asked Lockheed officials whether this might mitigate foreign-object damage and increase the engine's resiliency. They said, "That's an interesting question." I was surprised that they hadn't studied this in detail. The bottom line: is the F-35's single engine more reliable and survivable compared to past engines? Claiming that two engines are better because that's how we've done it in the past is flawed reasoning. It's also neglects our history, as many of the retired fighter pilots in the room reminded me. In 1958, the Navy was deciding between the single-engine Vought F8U-3 and the twin-engine McDonnell F4H. The safety record of twin versus single-engine airplanes was examined and determined to not be a deciding factor. The only twin-engine airplane at the time was the A3D Skywarrior, which had two engines because it was too big to be powered by only one. At 40,000 lbs. of thrust, the JSF doesn't need two engines by this measure. Also, looked at from a different side, having two engines simply doubles the chance that one fails. There are control and stability issues on one engine and it's unclear whether a dual-engined JSF could reasonably make a carrier landing on a single engine. Personally, I'd like to see more data – and anyone wanting to have a reasoned discussion of this issue should as well.
- I learned a lot about the international program, which I'll cover extensively at the other blog I contribute to, CIMSEC's NextWar blog.One interesting note: the event showed USNI's influence in stark relief. Once the floor was open for questions, the first two focused on the Chief of Naval Operations' recent Proceedings article "Payloads over Platforms." These questions weren't from me, but from bloggers from other venues. It was a moment that underscored how much the Naval Institute frames the discourse on maritime security.
Lockheed was reluctant to discuss the piece, at one point Lockheed's Bob Rubino joked "CNO's article? Didn't see that…" Many have taken the CNO's piece – especially his discussion on the limitations of stealth – as an indictment of the F-35 program. But if you read the piece closely, I think a better summary would be that stealth is important, but isn't the sole determinant of a successful aircraft.
The Joint Strike Fighter inspires strong feelings in both supporters and detractors, and so it's difficult to have a measured discussion of the program. What's clear is that the Navy, the United States, and many allies and partners are counting on the program's success. After today, any discussion of the program that isn't constructive towards that end holds little interest for me.
It would seem that the word "solidarity" doesn't mean what it used to.
Turkey, a long-time member of NATO, invoked Article 4 of the Charter, which calls for emergency consultation of all 28 member states, in response to the Syrian downing of an RF-4E reconnaissance aircraft. While not as serious as Article 5, which is invoked in the defense of a NATO ally that has been attacked, Article 4 has generally been seen as a preliminary to discuss options short of armed response. Turkey had threatened to invoke Article 4 back in April, when a cross-border incident in a refugee camp left five people, including two Turkish officials, dead.
From the meeting in Brussels, all Turkey got was the expected condemnation and the assurances of NATO togetherness. Turkey may have been expecting little else. Which is a good thing. In the case of Turkey and Syria, NATO is contemplating no such thing as armed intervention, or intervention of any kind. Not least of which because of Russia's stance and Putin's support for Syria's embattled Assad, combined with the general and embarrassing lack of credible capability demonstrated by NATO in Libya last year.
Despite a WAPO article with some speculation that NATO would consider sidestepping the UN and a certain Russian veto for real action against Syria, the chances of such a sidestep are virtually nil. Turkey knows that, Russia and Syria (and Iran) do, too. Making invocation of Article 4 a symbolic gesture by Turkey toward an increasingly impotent NATO, whose only action was to "condemn in the strongest terms". I am reminded of one of my favorite Daffy Duck lines. "I will do everything in my power to help you. Which will be nothing!" The rather unimpressive response to Turkey's Article 4 declaration bodes ill for any NATO member that might possibly wish to invoke Article 5, particularly if Putin and Russia wait in the wings.
Visegrad Group, anyone?
A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog piece that asserted that the naval conversation has lost a vital piece, tactics. We as a naval service have focused the professional dialog on the strategic level while the tactical level has largely been neglected. I got a good response to the piece but one frequent criticism that I received was that many believe the discussion of tactics belongs in the classroom and wardroom, but not the open forum. I disagree. The navy has many schools that focus on sharpening tactical skills. These schools, in combination with vibrant discussions in wardrooms and ready rooms around the fleet can effectively cover the tactical baseline for each community; however, the connective tissue, that forms the bridge between communities, known as Fleet Tactics, is left completely void.
"Trackin Devil Dog, Good to go, Err, Hoorah."
The Marine Corps perhaps is the best example of a cohesive fighting force. Because every Marine is a rifleman and all the officers went through TBS, they are able to speak the same language and anticipate the actions of their fellow Marines, whether they are in the air or on the ground. This is a trait that distinguishes them and makes them a much more deadly force than they would be as individual units. By contrast, we as a naval force speak different languages and have no common experience or training to connect us. Each community studies its own tactics, some more than others, but none fully understand what to expect from our brethren in the other communities.
As a SWO I would love to say that every Naval Officer should be a ship driver but that is impossible for many reasons, least of which that we do not have enough ships to facilitate it. However, there does need to be some common thread, some common tactical language that can be fused together so that the Navy, if required, could move forward as one Fleet and know exactly what to expect from the other units in the force, without having to have them explicitly stated in a 300 page OPORD.
It starts with a Conversation
I believe that void, that deficiency in training, can and should be filled in part by a robust professional tactical discussion that could occur fleet wide. Not only can we as a naval service step up and have a more robust conversation that brings in junior and senior officers alike, but can come together as one so that aviators understand and predict what the SWOs are going to do in a tactical engagement, and SWOs understand what the Submariners are going to do etc.
This dialog does not have to be in Proceedings or on a blog. I would argue that at one point in naval history this void might have been filled by discussions that happened around a pint in the officer's club. Whether this dynamic discussion happens in print, in symposiums, around the wardroom, or in a new school, the crossing of those barriers is vitally important and is something to be aspired to. Now that the money is drying up, we have to be more effective with what we have, and the best way for us to be more tactically effective is to be a more cohesive fighting force. That means that we need to double down on Fleet Tactics.
LT Robert McFall is a Surface Warfare Officer that did two tours on USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. He is currently the Vice Chairman of the Editorial Board of the United States Naval Institute and on the Board of Directors of the Surface Navy Association.
Navy Lt Kurt Albaugh's recent piece ("The Return of the Privateers") at news.usni.org is valuable in the discussion about an old concept made new in response to the challenge of Somali piracy off the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean. The private sector is adapting to new markets. In this case, a private security industry has emerged to address the needs of the private sector's threat by pirates, especially in that region of the world.
Appropriate terminology is the first step in understanding this issue. Privateers were ships authorized by states to engage in armed conflict against another state's commerce. Letters of marque were issued by a state to formalize that authorization. They were considered such an integral part of naval warfare that the founding fathers included that specific power for Congress in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. During the War of 1812, for example, the U.S. government with a small navy of approximately sixteen ships at the war's outset, issue some 500 letters of marque to privateers which, subsequently, captured more than 1,300 British prizes (see Charles Brodine, "The War's Pervasive Dimensions," Naval History, June 2012). Letters of marque were later issued by the independent Republic of Texas in the 1830s and the Confederate States of American during the Civil War. The Treaty of Paris (1856) (see "Contracts of Marque," Proceedings, November 2007) ending the Crimean War banned the use of privateers by the war's combatants. The U.S. later signed the Hague Convention of 1907 signaling its own end to the use of privateers.
Consequently, the term "privateer" is not an entirely accurate reflection of today's emerging maritime security industry since the companies are a) not hired largely by states and b) not engaged to seek out and capture or destroy enemy commerce. The current termed that has gained acceptance is "PCASP" – Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel. This includes both the armed guards hired on board ships and as well as a subset of the maritime security industry.
The proposed Convoy Escort Programme, a private naval force underwritten by Lloyds, despite indications otherwise in the past several years appears poised to finally materialize. This concept is not new. Since 2007, when piracy began to emerge as a threat to shipping at first in the Gulf of Aden, several firms have claimed they had or intended to buy ships. While the former Blackwater was the first to produce a ship – the former NOAA ship McArthur – it arrived in the Red Sea without any clients and the ship never provided protection to commercial clients as intended. Other firms, including U.S. and French companies, made bold assertions that they had many boats at the ready, but upon investigation none existed and the stories rapidly changed. (see "Private Security Companies and Piracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, March 2009). Several companies have, however, had platforms in the region including Protection Vessels International (PVI) which has operated three escort boats on a consistent basis. Other firms have also emerged providing logistics platforms such as "floatels" (floating hotels).
The response to piracy has included both state navies and a far more robust response from the shipping industry including improvements to Best Management Practices as well as the reluctant acceptances of on-board armed guards. State navies have existed for thousands of years and control of the seas were determined by battles such as Salamis between the various Greek city-states and the Persian Empire or Actium between the competing Roman and Egyptian forces. But, on occasion, usually out of necessity, states and shipping companies (such as the East India Company) have turned to the private sector, right or wrong, to supplement their numbers or address other shortcomings.
Lt. Albaugh piece echoes the fundamental questions of accountability, rules of engagement (or in PCASP parlance "use of force"), and interests of the state – or more appropriately the shipping companies, are important. These and other questions are being debated but the answers are by no means set. Finally, the market itself may change as radically as it has in the past five or six years.
With some 20,000 ship transits in the Gulf of Aden annually, the opportunities for maritime security companies seemed encouraging, but the actual number of vulnerable ships to pirates is far less depending on the speed and ship structures which are both preventative to most attacks. Six years ago, only six to twelve firms offer armed maritime security guards (according to my co-editor on "Maritime Private Security"). Today the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) has over 120 firms as members. Some estimates suggest the number of firms is higher than 200. Arguably not every firm has the same capability, offers the same services, or is as robust as others. Some may simply be an individual through whom other contracts and resumes are processed. The number of Gulf of Aden transits will not markedly increase. With the proliferation of PCASPs and the decreased number of successful attacks (primarily due to armed guards), it is possible that if these conditions hold the market in that region has been saturated, that opportunities with it will diminish and marginal PCASPs with no other choice than the leave the market or to find other markets, should they arise, such as the Gulf of Guinea.
Lieutenant Commander Claude Berube is the co-editor of "Maritime Private Security: Market Responses Piracy, Terrorism, and Waterborne Security Risks in the 21st Century" (Routledge, 2012). His articles about private security as sea have appeared since 2007 in Orbis, Jane's Intelligence Review, the Washington Times, Forbes.com, and Naval Institute Proceedings. He serves on the Editorial Board of Proceedings.
This is the final installment in my series of posts on William Sims and what his discovery and development of continuous aim fire a century ago can tell us about junior leaders and innovation. They are part of the remarks that I delivered at NWDC's Junior Leader Innovation Symposium.
A Junior Officer and a Discovery.
The Gritty Truth of Junior Leader Innovation
Years after serving as the Navy's Inspector of Target Practice, as World War I raged, Rear Admiral William Sims was sent to England to command all U.S. Naval Forces based there. Promoted to Vice Admiral, he arrived as the U-boat Wolfpacks of the German Navy were decimating the supply lines across the Atlantic. The British Isles were on the verge of starvation. The Royal Navy had been completely ineffective against the German submarines as they massed their battleships to take on the German Imperial Navy's High Seas Fleet.
When Admiral Sims arrived he was approached by a group of young Lieutenants who brought him an idea which the Royal Navy had refused to implement. These Lieutenants were the Commanding Officers of a new class of warship called a Destroyer, and they believed that working together they could convoy supplies across the Atlantic and take on the Wolfpacks, swarm against swarm. The Royal Navy's Admiralty refused to adopt the new tactics. Sims requested more destroyers from the States, and told the Royal Navy that the US would help out if they tried the young JO's ideas.
The convoy system showed results almost immediately. The convoys were so successful and so vital to the war effort that Sims – the very definition of a Battleship Admiral – cabled back to Washington and told the Department of the Navy to stop building Battleships and put all shipbuilding into Destroyers … all because he listened to a group of Junior Leaders with a good idea.
After the war was over, Sims took over as the President of The Naval War College. He made adjustments to the curriculum and he started running officers through war games. These war games included early work on a war plan that could be used for a conflict in the Pacific. The work that Sims started on the Pacific plan, which became War Plan Orange, suggested that the U.S. Navy should look into investing in a new kind of ship … the aircraft carrier. The Battleship Admiral, who championed Destroyers because of the tactical and operational innovation of junior leaders, turned to the birth of naval aviation because of the ideas of his subordinates at the War College. The Milwaukee Journal wrote that Sims "continued to be a thorn in the fat flesh of the naval hierarchy during his entire career."
What can we learn from this story?
First, you have to know where your expertise lies. You have to study, and do the deep research needed to understand why things are the way they are. You have to understand that you don't know everything, and like Sims working with his wardroom mates and his gunner's mates, you have to work to identify challenges and problems. It's important to admit that you don't know everything. Once you admit it, start learning as much as you can. Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote, "The study of history lies at foundation of all sound military conclusions and practices." The key element in his principle is that we have to study and develop our expertise.
Find a way to talk about your idea. Take Sims' warning to heart though and don't be insubordinate, don't write a letter to the President (it's probably not going to get you anywhere today anyway). However, you need to engage both inside the system and outside the system. Inside the Navy and the Military you have NWDC concept development. You have SUBFOR's TANG that we heard about from VADM Richardson earlier. And we have some of the resources that Dr. Fall from ONR described. You also have your chain of command. You can submit changes to TTP's and manuals, NATOPS changes, or write white papers to submit up the chain. Outside of the lifelines there are also options. Write an article for USNI's Proceedings or write up your idea for one of the online publications like USNI Blog, Small Wars Journal, Information Dissemination, or the Next War Blog at the Center for International Maritime Security. We can also engage with the community professional organizations like Naval Helicopter Association, Tailhook, or the Surface Navy Association.
Third, find something you believe in and demonstrate your own grit. You have to want to do this. This isn't a fast or sure way to a fitrep or an eval bullet. This isn't necessarily going to get you another ribbon for your chest candy. This is for the combat effectiveness of the Service. This is about professionalism. You have to be willing to spend 2 years writing 13 reports that everyone appears to be ignoring. You have to be willing to invest the time and energy and hard work needed to see your idea through. Christopher Hitchens wrote in his book Letters to a Young Contrarian, "Don't expect to be thanked, by the way, the life of an oppositionist is supposed to be difficult."
Finally, we all need to learn to listen. This is especially true as we become more senior. Today we may be the junior leaders, but that means tomorrow some of us will be the mid-grade leaders, and in the future some of us will be the senior leaders of the Navy. Sims is proof that when you remember it's not about you but instead it's about the idea and about the Service, you can continue to innovate as you are promoted. However, as a senior officer or senior enlisted it takes more listening and more encouraging of your subordinates, because they're likely to have the next great idea…like convoys or aircraft carriers. Having senior leaders that listen, and who become the champions of the great ideas of their subordinates, is just as vital as having junior personnel with innovative ideas.
There's a reason why the title of my last slide says "Lessons Observed." These lessons are just ideas that I've pulled from this story. William Sims offers us all a great example to learn from. However, whether or not these observations actually become lessons learned … that's up to you.
The author would like to thank VADM Daly, Bill Miller, and Mary Ripley from USNI for encouraging his involvement with the NWDC conference.
There's a generation gap in our military today. It happens every 20 years or so, of course, as members of younger generations enter the military in greater numbers and older generations retire. Signs include dissonance between the norms and priorities of older, senior leaders and those of younger, junior servicemembers. Today, for example, senior leaders wonder why junior servicemembers are selfish and act entitled, while younger men and women ask why those in leadership positions have lost perspective and don't understand problems facing younger generations.
Current events and comments support this growing disconnect, as Baby Boomers fill senior leadership positions and retire while Millennials (those born after approximately 1979-1980) flood the lower and middle ranks.
A November 2010 Boston Globe article addressed the generation gap exhibited in both the implementation of DADT and its much-later repeal (1 Nov 2010, "A Generation Gap on 'Don't Ask' Policy," AP). It's a quick read, stating what many people currently serving know: to the majority of Generation X and Millennial servicemembers, the sexual preferences of those we serve with just aren't that big of a deal. And most believed it wouldn't affect morale or unit readiness negatively. Older servicemembers, however, had/have a harder time with the idea of homosexuals serving in the military. The survey results are posted here.
I saw the generation gap both on active duty and as a reservist. When flying with older pilots, both as a student and later as an instructor, I consistently heard, "Well, I've never flown with a woman before." It happened so often that we would joke about it in the squadron, and I came up with a set of one-liner responses ("Huh, is that right, sir?" gets old). But I never heard it from those my age or younger. Not once. To younger Marines, it didn't matter. Who cared? They'd worked with women before, and it just wasn't important. Later, while pregnant for my oldest, I flew regularly, and peers and younger pilots thought that flying with a pregnant pilot was either interesting or a non-event, usually seeing it as a chance to get three people in a Cobra at once and make jokes on flight grading sheets like "both of you are now DACM qualified." But I never heard it called wrong, disgusting, or unsuitable for military service until I wrote about flying while pregnant on this forum.
Which brings up my next point: the Naval Institute's efforts to engage and attract junior members. Two weeks ago, USNI sent a letter to members stating that the #1 job this year is to "engage young professionals and groom them to pick up the baton for the next generation." On the USNI website, under "Where We're Headed," Objective #3 states that USNI must "increase, broaden, and engage our membership." It specifically cites a need to "bring more active duty personnel…into the fold" and that "we must pass down USNI's historical treasures to the next generation. They must be present for that to happen." They are spot on, and meeting this objective is key to keeping communication lines open between generations so that we can continue to learn and improve the force. Asking around at work and among Navy/Marine Corps friends, I found that while some were familiar with USNI and its work, the majority were not. Of those that were, they generally considered it either out of touch with current servicemembers or an organization catering to retired personnel.
My point? There is a growing generation gap in the military (and the larger American culture), and we need to address it. It happens about every 20 years and it can be transformative. Baby Boomers caused major changes to how America views its wars, wartime leaders, and politicians, and, with Vietnam burned upon the collective consciousness, they brought about broad policy changes to ensure (as much as possible) that we do not find ourselves committed to another war that we either can't or won't win. Two decades later, Generation X began entering the military after being raised by single parents and in dual-income households at a higher rate than previous generations. Having grown up with the Feminist Movement, Generation X women were among the first to serve on combat ships and aircraft, and young men and women of this generation joined a military that largely allowed them to serve together.
Millennials are establishing themselves as the most tolerant generation on record. They are about 50% larger than Generation X, nearly as numerous as Baby Boomers. As a result of the cultural swings of the 80s and 90s, Millennials have different priorities, norms, and work/life expectations than Baby Boomers or even Generation X. Generation X and Millennials grew up in an America where women could fly and serve on nearly any aircraft or ship; where homosexuality was not something to hide or punish; where women began to graduate from college at higher rates than men; where their parents both worked full-time; and where (I'm going to use the "D" word here) diversity among Americans reached new heights.
With a looming budget crisis and after over a decade of conflict, we as a military must not alienate quality members of younger generations. Career paths, retention policies, and combat restrictions that worked 20 years ago may not work well now to attract and keep the best and brightest of younger generations. What constitutes combat has changed, our enemies have changed, and the servicemen and -women who fight our wars have changed. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the changing demographics of the family, especially the military family. The generation gap has forever altered the idea of what a family is and how it works. Considering that family reasons are the top ones given by those leaving the Navy and Marine Corps, it's something we must pay attention to.
Some last thoughts on the generation gap and our need to ensure the services attract the best women and men 10, 20, 30 years from now:
–We need to keep an open mind when hearing complaints from other generations. It takes courage to speak up, and those doing so often don't unless they feel it is worth the risk.
–We need to look closely at the demographics and what they tell us. Women comprise more than half of all college graduates. In stark contrast with the white-male majority in the military, the majority of all births in America are now minorities. The family consisting of a male breadwinner with a supportive wife and kids at home is a small and shrinking minority among families, most of which are headed by dual-income couples. Millennials and Generation Xers believe family is more important than work. These trends are also continuing to grow; this isn't a blip on the social radar.
–As college degrees become more common and earning one means less competitively, more people seek graduate degrees to stand out. The average military career path makes it hard to fit a college or graduate degree in, and while some manage to do it, we need to look at ways to allow continuing education—which should be a priority—for more servicemembers.
–We must continue to monitor the retention numbers and pay close attention to the reasons given by those leaving at the 6-10 year marks; family time and the inability to achieve a balance between a military career and the demands of a family top the list of reasons why people leave the service.
–None of us are unbiased. I am a product of my experiences, as is every one of us, and those experiences are valid and deserve respect. Dismissing ideas from junior servicemembers because they are different is going to hurt us more in the long run. A decade, two decades from now, this military will be led by those midgrade and junior officers and enlisted members, and we need to do the best we can to set them up for success in every form.
Either way, one day the younger generation will have the reins, and we owe it to ourselves and them to get more creative now.
The lead ship of the magnificent Iowa-class battleships, the fastest and most advanced gun ships every to put to sea, has arrived at her new home, Berth 87 in San Pedro, opposite the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, itself newly renovated.
Iowa (BB-61) was saved from her Suisun Bay purgatory, and the cutting torch, and will be open for visitors on 7 July. The veteran of World War II and Korea was recommissioned in 1984, and suffered the tragic explosion in Turret 2 in 1989, which killed 47 sailors.
She now is the last of the four of her namesake class to be preserved, with New Jersey (BB-62) in Camden NJ, Wisconsin (BB-64 and Scott's beloved Big Badger Boat!) in Norfolk, VA, and Missouri (BB-63) at Pearl Harbor, near Arizona (BB-39), forever in her watery depths at Berth F-7.
As a museum battleship, Iowa joins her sisters, and USS Massachusetts (BB-59) at Fall River MA, and USS Alabama (BB-60) in Mobile Bay, the two surviving South Dakotas, and the Grand Dame of US battlewagons, the venerable USS Texas (BB-35) at Galveston, TX. (Texas is the lone second-generation Dreadnought still extant, and saw service in both World Wars following her commissioning in 1914.)
Iowa began her journey from the "Mothball Fleet" in Suisun Bay in October 2011, to Richmond CA to repair and restore, scrape and paint, and replace rotted teak decks that are the inevitable result of twenty years' time at the mercy of the elements. She also received the sprucing befitting a lady whom will be in the public eye. From there, she passed under the Golden Gate one last time late in May, and arrived off Los Angeles on Friday.
Many thanks to all those folks whose pictures I used in this post.
As Mr. Robert Evans points out, I am guilty of a most egregious omission. USS North Carolina (BB-55) is preserved beautifully in Wilmington NC. Shame on me for missing the "Showboat". Especially since it was a favorite destination during my two tours at Lejeune!!!


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10 Foolproof ways to entertain your kids during Snowmaggedon by Bethany Ramos 2 days ago Share Tweet Pin Share Save A snow day is one thing, but a massive East Coast winter storm that puts 29 million people under a blizzard warning is quite another. If you are on blizzard watch and you happen to be a parent, you are probably shaking in your boots right about now. Read Full Story
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5 Printable stickers to inspire your daughter by Whitney Coy Nov 09, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save I remember the journals I used to keep when I was young. Closed up tight with tiny locks, their matching keys squirreled away under the lamp next to my bed, the journals themselves stuffed under a mattress or inside a pillowcase. Read Full Story
3 Printable holiday 'thank you' cards kids can color themselves by Whitney Coy Oct 31, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save Every holiday gift deserves a thank you, and we're not just talking about the quick "thank you" your kids mutter as they're ripping off wrapping paper. Read Full Story
Fall family bucket list ideas that aren't lame by Michelle Maffei Oct 30, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save Just because summer is over doesn't mean you have to fall into a boring routine at home. But, dragging kids out of the house after they're worn out from a long week of school is not at the top of my list, either. So, check out these fall family bucket list ideas that aren't lame and you won't hear any grumbles from the peanut gallery. Read Full Story
Mr. Peabody explains how to make exercise fun for kids by Mr. Peabody Oct 07, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save A reader asks the esteemed Mr. Peabody: My daughter doesn't like playing any sports. How do I make sure she stays healthy and fit and keep things fun for her? Read Full Story
Hit the mall with your child by using this retail play pack by Megan Kavy Sep 29, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save What's better than a little retail therapy? This play pack has everything your child needs to imagine her very own retail store. Read Full Story
Master DIY playtime with these finger puppet printables by Megan Kavy Sep 29, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save These printable finger puppets make playtime easy. No cost required. Read Full Story
3 Kid-friendly origami tutorials by Jennifer Coe Sep 07, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save Origami — the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes — is easy to learn and fun to do with kids of all ages. The best part? Almost no mess to clean up. Read Full Story
DIY wind-up racing spool car tutorial by Jennifer Coe Sep 07, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Share Save These wind-up wooden spool cars are simple to make but will provide hours and hours of fun and entertainment for both the young and old. These little vehicles go together very quickly and easily, and move on their own — with a little wind-up and the power of the rubber band. Read Full Story

subset: commoncrawl


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- 4-hour cruise on Dennis Conner's America off the Californian coast
- Whale sighting and 'No Seasickness' guarantee!
- Spot whales and dolphins frolicking in the Pacific Ocean on their annual migration
- Visit San Diego Maritime Museum any time before or after your sailing adventure
- The America is the only sailing yacht offering whale-watching cruises in San Diego
What You Can Expect
When boarding the 139ft luxury sailing schooner America you'll be taking a step back into history. Sailing's prestigious America's Cup is named after the vessel which raced from 1851 - 1945. Receiving a $6 million rebuild in 1995, the luxury schooner owned by Dennis Conner is now ready for you to get on board for a relaxing half-day cruise.
With the wind in the sails you'll cruise effortlessly on the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego in search of migrating gray whales and playful pods of dolphins. With no noisy diesel engine, the boat can get up close to the marine wildlife giving you unbeatable photo opportunities. With low sweeping decks offering fantastic uninterrupted views and a deep keel for stability, the America offers whale-watching at its best.
Snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic) are offered during the cruise, however you are welcome to bring along a picnic lunch or favorite bottle of wine to enjoy on the expansive decks.
In addition to whale sighting guarantee, the America gives a unique 'No Seasickness' guarantee. Should seasickness spoil your day the crew will invite you back to sail free of charge on another day, or issue you with a gift certificate for lunch at the famous San Diego Fish Market. With no diesel engine fumes and a gentle sailing pace, the crew are confident this cruise will be gentle on your stomach.
To complete this great value for money package, you get admission to San Diego Maritime Museum. The museum has one of the world's finest collections of historic ships, including the world's oldest active ship Star of India. You can visit San Diego Maritime Museum before or after the cruise, the choice is yours (must be on the same day as your cruise).
Customer Reviews
April 2014
This was a wonderful trip. The passenger numbers were below capacity so there was more room for us all and we had a great day on the water. We did see a whale and calf but, given that it was at the end of the season, everyone was satisfied with that. There were also dolphins and seals so it was well worth the effort. Crew members were helpful, informative and interacted well with the passengers. This was a very enjoyalbe day and is to be recommended. Well done!
April 2014
It was amazing to be on a schooner, sailing out on the Pacific! The passengers helped raise the sails as we got underway and we covered our ears as the horn blasted out the start of our adventure. As we cleared Point Loma we hit open water and it was exhilarating to be racing on the waves and feeling the wind and salt spray as the search for whales began. We did see whales, following them for 30-45 minutes,an unforgettable experience!! The captain and crew were excellent,mindful of our safety and comfort, but also encouraging all of us to enjoy this once in-a-lifetime outing! The kids on board got special attention from Captain Al as he explained a lot of the history of whaling and sailing. As we said goodbye to the whales, the crew opened up the last sail and we winged back San Diego, passing the schooner Californian with a cheer! Lots to see in the San Diego harbor, from the Navy warships and submarines, to a glimpse of the USA 11 . As we pulled up to the dock, all aboard agreed that it was a memorable experience, thanks to the crew and captain, and of course, the whales!!!


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Recipe: Southwestern-Spiced Pork Tenderloin Weeknight Dinner Recipes from The Kitchn This is one of my absolute favorite "make it once, eat it all week" recipes. Dinner is tender, spice-rubbed pork medallions with some quick-sautéed veggies on the side, and the leftovers become pork sandwiches all week long. And not just any pork sandwiches, but the best pork sandwiches — this thinly sliced pork is light-years beyond anything you'll find at the deli counter. Need any more convincing? How about the fact that this roasted pork is ready in about 30 minutes flat, which is just enough time to cook a pot of rice and set the table for dinner.
17 Fresh & Healthy Lunch Recipes Recipes from The Kitchn Mozzacado Sandwich Open Slideshow August offers the best of everything. All the vegetables and fruits you could ever want are in season, just as lunch season heats up. Back to work, back to school — your lunchbox is ready for a fresh makeover, don't you think? Whether you're getting ready for a busy fall after a laid-back summer, or you have a kid going back to school, we've rounded up 17 fresh, healthy lunch recipes perfect for any backpack or lunchbox. From a mozzacado sandwich to a chilled black bean salad and seasonal spring rolls, brown-bagging it has never tasted so good.
How To Make Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad) Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn Open Slideshow I always forget how amazing panzanella is, and then around this time every summer, I remember. This classic Italian salad seems somehow too simple — and too improbable — to be as good as it is. We're talking about a mix of day-old bread and juicy ripe tomatoes with whatever veggies might be in need of using, all tossed with a light vinaigrette. But panzanella is more than just another tomato salad with some croutons – give everything about a half hour to mingle and mix, and this bread salad goes from "pretty good" to a bone fide can't-stop-eating-it summer dinner win.
Recipe: Couscous & Goat Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes Side Dish Recipes from The Kitchn These stuffed tomatoes are the essence of summer. Field-fresh tomatoes, stuffed with an aromatic, Mediterranean-inspired mixture of couscous, fresh herbs, mushrooms and olives, topped with creamy goat cheese — all together, this makes a delicate, light and fresh side dish for a barbecue or a late summer dinner.
Recipe: Tomato Salad with Red Onion, Dill and Feta Salad Recipes from The Kitchn There are two schools of thought as to what makes the perfect summer tomato salad. There's the minimalist approach, as seen in this lovely recipe, letting ripe tomatoes stand on their own with nothing more than a touch of oil and balsamic. This is very good indeed. But there is another approach that is just as good. This is the full-on maximalist tomato salad: tossed gloriously with red pepper, feta, dill, cucumber, and olives. Both are beautiful, both are delicious, but we're going maximal today.
Recipe: No-Cook Tomato Sauce Weeknight Dinner Recipes from The Kitchn Late summer tomatoes finally turning red and orange, check. Basil plants still producing loads of leaves, check. Garlic cloves and fruity extra virgin olive oil, check and check. These are the only ingredients you need for the easiest and tastiest 5-ingredient tomato sauce of all time. The results are simple and spectacular.
Recipe: Swiss Chard Taco Wraps with Cumin-Lime Sauce Recipes from The Kitchn Our farm is overflowing with summer produce right now, and my husband and I could not be more thrilled. Our hard work is finally paying off and some of our favorite summertime treats are starting to make their seasonal debut. Tomatoes, onions, peppers, corn, cilantro, and of course, one of my favorite leafy greens: swiss chard! Put those together and you have these healthy, no-fuss swiss chard taco wraps, perfect for a breezy summer meal.
Recipe: Chilled Black Bean, Feta & Cucumber Salad Healthy Lunch Recipes from The Kitchn This hearty, refreshing salad takes about 15 minutes to make — no cooking, no excessive prep. If my taste buds could actually dance, they would definitely dance with every spoonful. Creamy feta and red wine vinegar add a delicious Greek twist to ingredients that are typically found in Central American dishes: black beans, corn, and cilantro. Make a big batch at the beginning of the week and you're all set.
How Is Egg Salad So Bad Sometimes? Kitchen Diaries: Kate in New York City The first time I ate egg salad was surprisingly late in life, when I was 16 or 17. The memory wouldn't be noteworthy except that it was so exceptionally un-noteworthy. All I recall is that a glob of yellowish gray mush devoid of any flavor, or even salt and pepper, sat in front of me. So this is it, I thought. Years later, I've become obsessed with the versatility of salads like this — egg salad, tuna salad and the like. But really, how can something so good be so bad so often?
Recipe: Quinoa Tabbouleh Side Dish Recipes from The Kitchn Last week, I came home from the farmers market with my bag full of beautiful, bright red summer tomatoes. As I set them out on the counter, I spotted a container of quinoa that hadn't gotten put away the night before. I looked at the tomatoes. I looked at the quinoa. Tomatoes. Quinoa. And so this herby, lemony, tomato-flecked quinoa tabbouleh was born.


text: April 30, 2012 By G. Michael Dobbs firstname.lastname@example.com SPRINGFIELD Where some people might see objects for the recycling bin, Lisa Hoke sees the building blocks of sculpture. Hoke was on her knees in the community gallery of the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts last week. She was also on ladders and standing. Her work was creating paper and cardboard sculptures that will adorn the walls of the community gallery for the next year. Taking a close look at any of the pieces so far Hoke calls them "installations" and one can see a variety of printed cardboard boxes either flattened or cut or semi-assembled. A New Yorker, Hoke said that she buys items such as paper plates in bulk on eBay and is always collecting items. Even her building's superintendent sifts through recycling for her. Packaging fascinates her to the extent that she called it "intoxicating." "I'm keenly aware of how they [designers] use color and light to catch our attention," she said. On one wall, Hoke had constructed a spray of empty popcorn boxes. She had a piece of green cardboard in one hand and a glue gun in the other. She looks at the large three-dimensional paper and cardboard sculpture on the wall before her and places the new piece in the appropriate spot. She explained that she first constructs modules that she then assembles on a wall. From there she begins to add items. As a sculptor, she said her favorite medium is "Kleenex boxes." She started using packaging when she read her horoscope and it instructed her "to make soup." She interpreted the message in an artistic way and started a project using everything she could in her studio. Her installations will be completed by May 1. |


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The Space LED Post is a tall fitting from Endon, ideal for lighting entrances to paths and driveways, or for highlighting garden features.
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The Space LED Post from Endon is sturdily constructed from die-cast aluminium, and sports a graphite finish. This modern fitting is IP54 rated, which denotes strong protection against dust and rain.
This contemporary fitting is ideal for emphasising entrances to paths or drives, and for illuminating garden features. Low-maintenance and offering many years of fuss-free service, the Space LED Post can be co-ordinated with other products in the same range, available from Lyco.
As a Class I fitting, this tall post light needs a connection to electrical earth during installation.
The Space LED Post has an in-built 6W Epistar LED array, which produces 346 lumens of 6000-6500K cool white light. This is comparable in colour to the light of an overcast day, and is considered a 'daylight' colour temperature. It is good for rendering nearby objects in a natural colour.
The 6W LED of the Space LED Post uses 85% less watts than its 40W halogen equivalent. It also lasts 15 times longer than the average halogen lamp, with a long 30,000 hour lifespan.
A non-dimmable driver is built into this 'A' energy-rated post light. This is a dedicated LED fitting that does not take bulbs. It is designed to provide many years of reliable service with zero maintenance and maximum performance.
The dimensions of the tall Endon Space LED Post are:


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One of my pretty far away children lives in the southeast where theyve been having unusually severe snow storms, and has commented on the lack of preparation of the cities to battle these storms. We here in the upper Midwest laugh at their ineptitude at waging war on the snow and ice, but they are truly helpless without the knowledge and equipment to fight that kind of every-25-year weather.
Speaking of battles, Ive had the help of several allies in my war on pancakes and waffles. Ive gotten coupons for the batter in a bottle device, but still havent been able to find it in the stores. Yes, I know I could go to a clerk and ask, but keep in mind that Im a man and asking for help is a final solution to my problems. Anyway, my grocery assistant hasnt been working the last couple of times Ive been at the big store, so the next time shes there, Ill ask. I did get a gift of a plastic bottle containing some pre-mixed dry batter that you fill with water to an embossed line, shake really hard, and presto, you have batter. Ill try that and give you a report.
Now, I understand that much of my pancake and waffle problem relates to the preparation rather than the batter, but as long as Im in the cooking business, I might as well be on the cutting edge (no pun intended).
Valentines Day has come and gone without much emotional damage. As I stated last week, our house harbored school-age people for so long, our observance of that lovers holiday was directed towards little people or teenage puppy lovers.
I had my first real conversation by Skype with my really far away child recently. That is truly amazing to me. We talked for nearly an hour with only one glitch and it was free. I know some of my friends, who are up in birthdays, are suspicious of electronic devices, but I figure that if its available, you might as well take advantage of it if you can. Ill admit, if it was up to me, Id be using a crank telephone, but as long as my children can introduce me to these electronic amazements, Ill go along for the ride. I have several friends on Facebook who I dont even know and whom I might walk past every day without recognizing, but I know what theyre up to sometimes too much. My grandchildren keep me (and a lot of other people) informed on what they are up to also, so I guess Ill take advantage of what I can.
As the weather gets nicer, try to get outside, but be careful. Im always around on all these electronic devices at email@example.com.


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94. I know also that not even bodily blemishes in either priests(291) or victims(292) passed without notice, but that it was required by the law that perfect sacrifices must be offered by perfect men-a symbol, I take it, of integrity of soul. It was not lawful for everyone to touch the priestly vesture, or any of the holy vessels; nor might the sacrifices themselves be consumed except by the proper persons, and at the proper time and place;(293) nor might the anointing oil nor the compounded incense(294) be imitated; nor might anyone enter the temple who was not in the most minute particular pure in both soul and body; so far was the Holy of holies removed from presumptuous access, that it might be entered by one man only once a year;(295) so far were the veil, and the mercy-seat, and the ark, and the Cherubim, from the general gaze and touch.
95. Since then I knew these things, and that no one is worthy of the mightiness of God, and the sacrifice, and priesthood, who has not first presented himself to God, a living, holy sacrifice, and set forth the reasonable, well-pleasing service,(296) and sacrificed to God the sacrifice of praise and the contrite spirit,(297) which is the only sacrifice required of us by the Giver of all; how could I dare to offer to Him the external sacrifice, the antitype of the great mysteries,(298) or clothe myself with the garb and name of priest, before my hands had been consecrated by holy works; before my eyes had been accustomed to gaze safely upon created things, with wonder only for the Creator, and without injury to the creature; before my ear had been sufficiently opened to the instruction of the Lord, and He had opened mine ear to hear(299) without heaviness, and had set a golden earring with precious sardius, that is, a wise man's word in an obedient ear;(300) before my mouth had been opened to draw in the Spirit,(301) and opened wide to be filled(302) with the spirit of speaking mysteries and doctrines;(303) and my lips bound,(304) to use the words of wisdom, by divine knowledge, and, as I would add, loosed in due season: before my tongue had been filled with exultation, and become an instrument of Divine melody, awaking with glory, awaking right early,(305) and laboring till it cleave to my jaws:(306) before my feet had been set upon the rock,(307) made like hart's feet, and my footsteps directed in a godly fashion so that they should not well-night slip,(308) nor slip at all; before all my members had become instruments of righteousness,(309) and all mortality had been put off, and swallowed up of life,(310) and had yielded to the Spirit?
96. Who is the man, whose heart has never been made to burn,(311) as the Scriptures have been opened to him, with the pure words of God which have been tried in a furnace;(312) who has not, by a triple(313) inscription(314) of them upon the breadth of his heart, attained the mind of Christ;(315) nor been admitted to the treasures which to most men remain hidden, secret, and dark, to gaze upon the riches therein?(316) and become able to enrich others, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.(317)
97. Who is the man who has never beheld, as our duty is to behold it, the fair beauty of the Lord, nor has visited His temple,(318) or rather, become the temple of God,(319) and the habitation of Christ in the Spirit?(320) Who is the man who has never recognized the correlation and distinction between figures and the truth, so that by withdrawing from the former and cleaving to the latter, and by thus escaping from the oldness of the letter and serving the newness of the spirit,(321) he may clean pass over to grace from the law, which finds its spiritual fulfilment in the dissolution of the body.(322)
98. Who is the man who has never, by experience and contemplation, traversed the entire series of the titles(323) and powers of Christ, both those more lofty ones which originally were His, and those more lowly ones which He later assumed for our sake-viz.: God, the Son, the Image, the Word, the Wisdom, the Truth, the Light, the Life, the Power, the Vapour, the Emanation, the Effulgence, the Maker, the King, the Head, the Law, the Way, the Door, the Foundation, the Rock, the Pearl, the Peace, the Righteousness, the Sanctification, the Redemption, the Man, the Servant, the Shepherd, the Lamb, the High Priest, the Victim, the Firstborn before creation, the Firstborn from the dead, the Resurrection: who is the man who hearkens, but pays no heed, to these names so pregnant with reality, and has never yet held communion with, nor been made partaker of, the Word, in any of the real relations signified by each of these names which He bears?
99. Who, in fine, is the man who, although he has never applied himself to, nor learnt to speak, the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery,(324) although he is still a babe, still fed with milk,(325) still of those who are not numbered in Israel,(326) nor enrolled in the army of God, although he is not yet able to take up the Cross of Christ like a man, although he is possibly not yet one of the more honorable members, yet will joyfully and eagerly accept his appointment as head of the fulness of Christ?(327) No one, if he will listen to my judgment and accept my advice! This is of all things most to be feared, this is the extremest of dangers in the eyes of everyone who understands the magnitude of success, the utter ruin of failure.
100. Let others sail for merchandise, I used to say, and cross the wide oceans, and constantly contend with winds and waves, to gain great wealth, if so it should chance, and run great risks in their eagerness for sailing and merchandise; but, for my part, I greatly prefer to stay ashore and plough a short but pleasant furrow, saluting at a respectful distance the sea and its gains, to live as best I can upon a poor and scanty store of barley-bread, and drag my life along in safety and calm, rather than expose myself to so long and great a risk for the sake of great gains.
101. For one in high estate, if he fail to make further progress and to disseminate virtue still more widely, and contents himself with slight results, incurs punishment, as having spent a great light upon the illumination of a little house, or girt round the limbs of a boy the full armor of a man. On the contrary, a man of low estate may with safety assume a light burden, and escape the risk of the ridicule and increased danger which would attend him if he attempted a task beyond his powers. For, as we have heard, it is not seemly for a man to build a tower, unless he has sufficient to finish it.(328)
102. Such is the defence which I have been able to make, perhaps at immoderate length, for my flight. Such are the reasons which, to my pain and possibly to yours, carried me away from you, my friends and brothers; yet, as it seemed to me at the time, with irresistible force. My longing after you, and the sense of your longing for me, have, more than anything else, led to my return, for nothing inclines us so strongly to love as mutual affection.
103. In the next place there was my care, my duty, the hoar hairs and weakness of my holy parents, who were more greatly distressed on my account than by their advanced age-of this Patriarch Abraham whose person is honored by me, and numbered among the angels, and of Sarah, who travailed in my spiritual birth by instructing me in the truth. Now, I had specially pledged myself to become the stay of their old age and the support of their weakness, a pledge which, to the best of my power, I have fulfilled, even at the expense of philosophy itself, the most precious of possessions and titles to me; or, to speak more truly, although I made it the first object of my philosophy to appear to be no philosopher, I could not bear that my labor in consequence of a single purpose should be wasted, nor yet that blessing should be lost, which one of the saints of old is said to have stolen from his father, whom he deceived by the food which he offered to him, and the hairy appearance he assumed, thus attaining a good object by disgraceful trickery.(329) These are the two causes of my submission and tractability. Nor is it, perchance, unreasonable that my arguments should yield and submit to them both, for there is a time to be conquered, as I also think there is for every purpose,(330) and it is better to be honorably overcome than to win a dangerous and lawless victory.
104. There is a third reason of the highest importance which I will further mention, and then dismiss the rest. I remembered the days of old,(331) and, recurring to one of the ancient histories, drew counsel for myself therefrom as to my present conduct; for let us not suppose these events to have been recorded without a purpose, nor that they are a mere assemblage of words and deeds gathered together for the pastime of those who listen to them, as a kind of bait for the ears, for the sole purpose of giving pleasure. Let us leave such jesting to the legends and the Greeks, who think but little of the truth, and enchant ear and mind by the charm of their fictions and the daintiness of their style.
105. We however, who extend the accuracy of the Spirit to the merest stroke and tittle,(332) will never admit the impious assertion that even the smallest matters were dealt with haphazard by those who have recorded them, and have thus been borne in mind down to the present day: on the contrary, their purpose has been to supply memorials and instructions for our consideration under similar circumstances, should such befall us, and that the examples of the past might serve as rules and models, for our warning and imitation.
106. What then is the story, and wherein lies its application? For, perhaps, it would not be amiss to relate it, for the general security. Jonah also was fleeing from the face of God,(333) or rather, thought that he was fleeing: but he was overtaken by the sea, and the storm, and the lot, and the whale's belly, and the three days' entombment, the type of a greater mystery. He fled from having to announce the dread and awful message to the Ninevites, and from being subsequently, if the city was saved by repentance, convicted of falsehood: not that he was displeased at the salvation of the wicked, but he was ashamed of being made an instrument of falsehood, and exceedingly zealous for the credit of prophecy, which was in danger of being destroyed in his person, since most men are unable to penetrate the depth of the Divine dispensation in such cases.
107. But, as I have learned from a man(334) skilled in these subjects, and able to grasp the depth of the prophet, by means of a reasonable explanation of what seems unreasonable in the history, it was not this which caused Jonah to flee, and carried him to Joppa and again from Joppa to Tarshish, when he entrusted his stolen self to the sea:(335) for it was not likely that such a prophet should be ignorant of the design of God, viz., to bring about, by means of the threat, the escape of the Ninerites from the threatened doom, according to His great wisdom, and unsearchable judgments, and according to His ways which are beyond our tracing and finding out;(336) nor that, if he knew this he would refuse to co-operate with God in the use of the means which He designed for their salvation. Besides, to imagine that Jonah hoped to hide himself at sea, and escape by his flight the great eye of God, is surely utterly absurd and stupid, and unworthy of credit, not only in the case of a prophet, but even in the case of any sensible man, who has only a slight perception of God, Whose power is over all.
108. On the contrary, as my instructor said, and as I am myself convinced, Jonah knew better than any one the purpose of his message to the Ninevites, and that, in planning his flight, although he changed his place, he did not escape from God. Nor is this possible for any one else, either by concealing himself in the bosom of the earth, or in the depths of the sea, or by soaring on wings, if there be any means of doing so, and rising into the air, or by abiding in the lowest depths of hell,(337) or by enveloping himself in a thick cloud, or by any other of the many devices for ensuring escape. For God alone of all things cannot be escaped from or contended with; if He wills to seize and bring them under His hand, He outstrips the swift, He outwits the wise, He overthrows the strong, He abases the lofty, He subdues rashness, He represses power.
109. Jonah then was not ignorant of the mighty hand of God, with which he threatened other men, nor did he imagine that he could utterly escape the Divine power; this we are not to believe: but when he saw the falling away of Israel, and perceived the passing over of the grace of prophecy to the Gentiles-this was the cause of his retirement from preaching and of his delay in fulfilling the command; accordingly he left the watchtower of joy, for this is the meaning of Joppa in Hebrew, I mean his former dignity and reputation, and flung himself into the deep of sorrow: and hence he is tempest-tossed, and falls asleep, and is wrecked, and aroused from sleep, and taken by lot, and confesses his flight, and is cast into sea, and swallowed, but not destroyed, by the whale; but there he calls upon God, and, marvellous as it is, on the third day he, like Christ, is delivered: but my treatment of this topic must stand over, and shall shortly, if God permit, be more deliberately worked out.(338)
110. Now however, to return to my original point, the thought and question occurred to me, that although he might possibly meet with some indulgence, if reluctant to prophesy, for the cause which I mentioned-yet, in my own case, what could be said, what defence could be made, if I longer remained restive, and rejected the yoke of ministry, which, though I know not whether to call it light or heavy, had at any rate been laid upon me.
111. For if it be granted, and this alone can be strongly asserted in such matters, that we are far too low to perform the priest's office before God, and that we can only be worthy of the sanctuary after we have become worthy of the Church,(339) and worthy of the post of president, after being worthy of the sanctuary, yet some one else may perhaps refuse to acquit us on the charge of disobedience. Now terrible are the threatenings against disobedience, and terrible are the penalties which ensue upon it; as indeed are those on the other side, if, instead of being reluctant, and shrinking back, and concealing ourselves as Saul did among his father's stuff(340) -although called to rule but for a short time-if, I say, we come forward readily, as though to a slight and most easy task, whereas it is not safe even to resign it, nor to amend by second thoughts our first.
112. On this account I had much toilsome consideration to discover my duty, being set in the midst betwixt two fears, of which the one held me back, the other urged me on. For a long while I was at a loss between them, and after wavering from side to side, and, like a current driven by inconstant winds, inclining first in this direction, then in that, I at last yielded to the stronger, and the fear of disobedience overcame me, and has carried me off. Pray, mark how accurately and justly I hold the balance between the fears, neither desiring an office not given to me, nor rejecting it when given. The one course marks the rash, the other the disobedient, both the undisciplined. My position lies between those who are too bold, or too timid; more timid than those who rush at every position, more bold than those who avoid them all. This is my judgment on the matter.
113. Moreover, to distinguish still more clearly between them, we have, against the fear of office, a possible help in the law of obedience, inasmuch as God in His goodness rewards our faith, and makes a perfect ruler of the man who has confidence in Him, and places all his hopes in Him; but against the danger of disobedience I know of nothing which can help us, and of no ground to encourage our confidence. For it is to be feared that we shall have to hear these words concerning those who have been entrusted to us: I will require their souls at your hands;(341) and, Because ye have rejected me, and not been leaders and rulers of my people, I also will reject you, that I should not be king over you;(342) and, As ye refused to hearken to My voice, and turned a stubborn back, and were disobedient, so shall it be when ye call upon Me, and I will not regard nor give ear to your prayer.(343) God forbid that these words should come to us from the just Judge, for when we sing of His mercy we must also by all means sing of His judgment.(344)
114. I resort once again to history, and on considering the men of best repute in ancient days, who were ever preferred by grace to the office of ruler or prophet, I discover that some readily complied with the call, others deprecated the gift, and that neither those who drew back were blamed for timidity, nor those who came forward for eagerness. The former stood in awe of the greatness of the ministry, the latter trustfully obeyed Him Who called them. Aaron was eager, but Moses resisted,(345) Isaiah readily submitted, but Jeremiah was afraid of his youth,(346) and did not venture to prophesy until he had received from God a promise and power beyond his years.(347)
115. By these arguments I charmed myself, and by degrees my soul relaxed and became ductile, like iron, and time came to the aid of my arguments, and the testimonies of God, to which I had entrusted my whole life, were my counsellors.(348) Therefore I was not rebellious, neither turned away back,(349) saith my Lord, when, instead of being called to rule, He was led, as a sheep to the slaughter;(350) but I fell down and humbled myself under the mighty hand of God,(351) and asked pardon for my former idleness and disobedience, if this is at all laid to my charge. I held my peace,(352) but I will not hold my peace for ever: I withdrew for a little while,(353) till I had considered myself and consoled my grief: but now I am commissioned to exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders.(354) If my former conduct deserved blame, my present action merits pardon.
116. What further need is there of words. Here am I, my pastors and fellow-pastors, here am I, thou holy flock, worthy of Christ, the Chief Shepherd,(355) here am I, my father, utterly vanquished, and your subject according to the laws of Christ rather than according to those of the land:(356) here is my obedience, reward it with your blessing. Lead me with your prayers, guide me with your words, establish me with your spirit. The blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children,(357) and would that both I and this spiritual house may be established, the house which I have longed for, which I pray may be my rest for ever,(358) when I have been passed on from the church here to the church yonder, the general assembly of the firstborn, who are written in heaven.(359)
117. Such is my defence: its reasonableness I have set forth: and may the God of peace,(360) Who made both one,(361) and has restored us to each other, Who setteth kings upon thrones, and raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,(362) Who chose David His servant and took him away from the sheepfolds,(363) though he was the least and youngest of the sons of Jesse,(364) Who gave the word(365) to those who preach the gospel with great power for the perfection of the gospel,-may He Himself hold me by my right hand, and guide me with His counsel, and receive me with glory,(366) Who is a Shepherd(367) to shepherds and a Guide to guides: that we may feed His flock with knowledge,(368) not with the instruments of a foolish shepherd,(369) according to the blessing, and not according to the curse pronounced against the men of former days: may He give strength and power unto his people,(370) and Himself present to Himself(371) His flock resplendent and spotless and worthy of the fold on high, in the habitation of them that rejoice,(372) in the splendour of the saints,(373) so that in His temple everyone, both flock and shepherds together may say, Glory, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Whom be all glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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Each class at StudioFit is unique because each of the certified instructors choreographs an exercise routine set to a custom mix of heart-pumping music and lights. They welcome students of all fitness levels for spinning, cardio-kickboxing, and Zumba classes held within a spacious mirrored studio. In spinning classes, exercisers straddle stationary bikes as they pedal along to different resistances. In kickboxing, they make their ways through boxing techniques that fuel cardio workouts. In Zumba classes, dancers move to Latin-based rhythms and music, shaking their hips and performing cardiovascular dance moves more fun than the power-walking man.
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The animals still spend the most time at their home venue, however. Here, fenced off areas contain larger animals such as cows and zebras, who always show up to work wearing the same black-and-white outfits. Bales of hay, wooden barrels, and a large, red barn create a rustic setting for picnics and birthday parties. Nearby, a merry-go-round spins endlessly and a truck?decorated to resemble a locomotive?pulls train cars on a tour of the grounds.
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