When you start the game, you should be able to go into the options menu after the title screen and put a check by "windowed mode" (or run in window, or something like that). From that point on, as long as the resolution of the desktop is greater than the resolution selected for the game you should notice it running in a window. If desktop resolution is same as game, it might not look like a window, but it is (just takes up the whole screen). Oh, and you will have to restart the game after making that selection.
Incidentally, I have a wider screen monitor and that's how I like to use it too. Keep MoBo off to the side and just overlay when needed...
Personally, I never served in the military or navy, I just liked the math. But I had some folks help me with it who you might've had radar contact with.