Nine Weeks: a teacher's education in Army Basic Training

by Rich Stowell

Nine Weeks tells the honest story of Army Basic Training.

Rich Stowell left his career as a high school teacher and college education professor as an enlistee in the United States Army. At the barracks of F Battery, 1/40 Field Artillery at Fort Sill Oklahoma, he trained for just over two months as a Soldier in the most powerful Army in the world.

His story is unique. As the oldest man in his training battery (of over 200 soldiers) and the most educated, Stowell had a unique vantage point from which to see and ponder the training regimen. He describes what it was like to live with privates who could have been his students just weeks before, and how young men are taught to fight in the most demanding atmosphere that America has ever produced Soldiers. Drawing on his experience as a professional teacher, he offers a candid assessment about the effectiveness of many components of the Basic Training Program.

Informed people ought to know how the American Soldier is made. In nine weeks-the standard timeline for an Army Basic trainee- he illustrates the process with a sophisticated insight and humor that is a novelty in military books. Funny, yet reverent; critical and honest, Stowell brings refreshing wit and wisdom to the story of how young men are gathered from around the country and molded into modern battlefield warriors.

It is a trip back in time for Soldiers who have run the gauntlet of Army Basic Training. Civilians will appreciate learning Army basics-their rationale and history-from Army rank to modern battlefield tactics. Americans of all ages and political persuasions, whether or not they have friends or family in the military, will enjoy learning about how United States Soldiers are trained.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2009

About the author

Rich Stowell currently teaches educational technology at the University of San Francisco and high school math at a charter school in Richmond, California.

He is the author of the book, Nine Weeks: a teacher's education in Army Basic Training, which combines his experiences teaching in the civilian world and training in the Army.

Rich recently returned from a deployment with the California National Guard in Kosovo, where he worked as a Public Affairs Specialist for Multi-National Task Force East, under NATO command. He was the Broadcast Section Chief for MNTF-E and contributed regularly to the Task Force magazine, The Guardian East. He has also been published in the official nation-wide and state-wide National Guard news magazines.

He still writes about his experiences in the Army on his military blog, "My Public Affairs," a humorously progressive insight into all things military.

Before deploying, he taught at the high school and middle school levels and worked as a math coach to dozens of teachers across the state of California. Previously, he was a founding math instructor at two charter schools in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Rich earned his Masters degree in Mathematics Education from Western Governors University, where he specialized in standards-based instruction.

He currently resides with his wife and son in Oakland, California.

Reviews

[Ekaete · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh. Rich's storytelling is captivating and funny. It's a serious book with serious messages, but Rich tells it in a fun, self-deprecating way.

I didn't know much about the Army before I read Nine Weeks, but now I feel like I understand the insanity that is Basic Combat Training. Week by week, Rich details the basic training regimen in excruciating detail. It was almost exhausting to read about the sleepless nights, the long marches with a couple dozen pounds of gear, the long hot days on the firing ranges, and the early morning exercise sessions. God bless our Soldiers! I couldn't help but wonder why they treat people so badly who they lionize so much. The day Rich's battery graduated was such a relief! I felt like I was right there with them.

Of particular interest was how Rich compared Army training with his teaching career. There is, of course, a lot common to both fields of endeavor, yet they are worlds apart. Nevertheless, the parallels and the differences are insightful--this may be the only book that could be required reading for drill sergeant school and teacher credential programs.

Nine Weeks was entertaining and educational, and is an absolute must-read for anyone who thinks they are informed about what the military does or are interested in how people learn.

[Worth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and whining account of BCT. Nothing like my experience at Ft. Bragg NC 27 years earlier. Filled with odd errors too. As a history teacher he tells an anecdote of a WWII hero whom he says breached the Siegfried line in March of 1944; problem is, D-Day didn't occur until June of 1944.

[Rich Stowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Military, Army Basic Training, Leadership, Leadership Style, Drill Sergeants, Basic Combat Training, Fort Sill, OK

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the greatest. I've met the author, too, and he's super-cool!

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about basic training.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about a teacher who joins the army. He serves with kids just slightly older than he taught in high school. It was interesting learning about basic training.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good perspective on a teacher's experience going through BCT.