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The Tiger's Way: A U.S. Private's Best Chance for Survival
This book is not just fun reading for determined riflemen, but vital self-defense info. for all security ranks and jobs. The Pentagon lost on the ground 40 years ago, and its squad tactics haven't changed much. Herein lie more advanced techniques for every category of short-range combat. They will permit better small-unit maneuvers (and fewer losses) for every intensity of combat. As Western ordnance turned more lethal, Eastern armies came to rely on tiny semi-autonomous elements. Most provide every rifleman with guerrilla training. Until the Pentagon follows suit, its own infantry enlistees will have less field skill, initiative, and decision-making experience than their Communist counterparts. In any close encounter, they will die unnecessarily and their commanders too often fail to win.
- GenresMilitary FictionWar
452 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 27, 2015
(For the record, I was an anti-tank infantryman (TOW gunner) in the USMC)
This is absolutely required reading for any enlisted infantryman, not sure of it's value, if any, to civilians. After I read this book it absolutely changed the way I conducted myself, and indeed, in individual actions I become much more effective. Once I picked up corporal I disseminated and pushed this book onto new-guys as much as possible, including utilizing many of the advised battle-drills in training. I know America will never cease its "high-diddle up the middle" strategy (that is: throw maximum money and meat at the problem) but on the micro level that an enlisted person operates a much better option is available! My fireteam became very effective thanks to adopting a more Eastern mindset and techniques.
The best infantrymen aren't muscly meat-heads, they're smart, cool-headed, and subtle. It's unfortunate that most are closer to the former than the latter, indeed, outside of my platoon the advocacy of such thinking and tactics as is outlined in this book met not only harsh criticism but even condemnation! My platoon once got a new Staff-Sergeant and he overheard me discussing various nations superiorities to our own with a group of my juniors, of course this wasn't only "wrong" but was almost disloyal. The old SSGT then waxed eloquently about how the USMC was the greatest fighting force in the world. When I pointed out that USMC Boot Camp is mostly close-order drill and uniform primping instead of practical fighting skills I was threatened with an NJP (Non-Judicial Punishment). This the prime problem that Poole points out in Tiger's Way, the military that is perfect has no reason to try and improve!
If your a military man/woman you should absolutely read this book, and check out "Gung Ho" and "The Last Hundred Yards", also by Poole. Then read John Boyd's biography. Don't let ignorance be the reason you get ventilated!
This is absolutely required reading for any enlisted infantryman, not sure of it's value, if any, to civilians. After I read this book it absolutely changed the way I conducted myself, and indeed, in individual actions I become much more effective. Once I picked up corporal I disseminated and pushed this book onto new-guys as much as possible, including utilizing many of the advised battle-drills in training. I know America will never cease its "high-diddle up the middle" strategy (that is: throw maximum money and meat at the problem) but on the micro level that an enlisted person operates a much better option is available! My fireteam became very effective thanks to adopting a more Eastern mindset and techniques.
The best infantrymen aren't muscly meat-heads, they're smart, cool-headed, and subtle. It's unfortunate that most are closer to the former than the latter, indeed, outside of my platoon the advocacy of such thinking and tactics as is outlined in this book met not only harsh criticism but even condemnation! My platoon once got a new Staff-Sergeant and he overheard me discussing various nations superiorities to our own with a group of my juniors, of course this wasn't only "wrong" but was almost disloyal. The old SSGT then waxed eloquently about how the USMC was the greatest fighting force in the world. When I pointed out that USMC Boot Camp is mostly close-order drill and uniform primping instead of practical fighting skills I was threatened with an NJP (Non-Judicial Punishment). This the prime problem that Poole points out in Tiger's Way, the military that is perfect has no reason to try and improve!
If your a military man/woman you should absolutely read this book, and check out "Gung Ho" and "The Last Hundred Yards", also by Poole. Then read John Boyd's biography. Don't let ignorance be the reason you get ventilated!
February 20, 2022
On Peter Nealen's recommendation, I've been reading a lot of H. John Poole lately. First, I read Tequila Junction: 4th-Generation Counterinsurgency, which covered how to counter narcoterrorists and foreign adversary influence in Central and South America; next came The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare, which was a breakdown of a need for an overhaul in tactics and techniques (some of it addressed since its publication in 1993 but most of it not); and now, I've finished The Tiger's Way: A U.S. Private's Best Chance for Survival, which is to lower enlisted what The Last Hundred Yards is to NCOs.
The crux of The Tiger's Way is an emphasis on decentralized combat, something that is foreign to American military thought (outside of the special operations community). It's obvious that Poole--a Vietnam veteran--has extensively studied Chinese, Japanese, North Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, and German military history and the techniques they employed throughout. The more of Poole I read, the more I start to comprehend the ideas he espouses. I think they deserve serious consideration by the brass, and in the meantime, should be implemented at the small unit level.
It can be somewhat dry reading at times, but this book is definitely a must-have for those looking to learn ways to improve upon their knowledge of infantry tactics.
The crux of The Tiger's Way is an emphasis on decentralized combat, something that is foreign to American military thought (outside of the special operations community). It's obvious that Poole--a Vietnam veteran--has extensively studied Chinese, Japanese, North Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, and German military history and the techniques they employed throughout. The more of Poole I read, the more I start to comprehend the ideas he espouses. I think they deserve serious consideration by the brass, and in the meantime, should be implemented at the small unit level.
It can be somewhat dry reading at times, but this book is definitely a must-have for those looking to learn ways to improve upon their knowledge of infantry tactics.
May 14, 2012
This book explained quite a lot to me as to why our U.S. soldiers have had so many difficulties in winning wars since WWII. (To be honest, unless we've thrown overwhelming forces in high ratios at a foe in order to win, we haven't.) I highly recommend it for anyone currently serving in the military, or for anyone who wishes to write military fiction.
The only drawback I found was the writing style, which at several points was a bit circular, as well as being very terminology-thick. The Glossary was very modest, confining itself at most to a handful of acronyms, and the author assumed his readers would automatically know what he was talking about on subjects such as bangalores, claymores, and burpguns, among many others.
Beyond that, it was a very informative read with many examples, and some good, solid suggestions on how to practice a more effective set of small unit tactics than are currently used by the U.S.
The only drawback I found was the writing style, which at several points was a bit circular, as well as being very terminology-thick. The Glossary was very modest, confining itself at most to a handful of acronyms, and the author assumed his readers would automatically know what he was talking about on subjects such as bangalores, claymores, and burpguns, among many others.
Beyond that, it was a very informative read with many examples, and some good, solid suggestions on how to practice a more effective set of small unit tactics than are currently used by the U.S.
July 5, 2011
It's really good for strategy, excellent information on moving by night and being silent - it is really imformative and broadens your mind, helping you realize that you may not be the best, but you can always get better, and that can be applied in any field of combat - school, work, et cetera.
October 1, 2013
Not an entertaining book, per se - but instructive if you want to better understand modern infantry tactics / methods. I actually put some of this book to good use.
A worthy read if you want to understand soldiering.
A worthy read if you want to understand soldiering.
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December 12, 2010Great author, great info. A different way of looking at combat.
Read
March 4, 2011It was filled with great insight.
October 30, 2011
Absolutely amazing! When will our war fighters wake up and take their job seriously? Step one: read this book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews