The Iron Major Survival Guide: Timeless Tips for the Field Grade Officer and Staff Leaders of All Types

by David Dunphy

The Iron Major Survival Guide is the essential self-help book for senior Captains, Field Grade officers, and staff leaders & managers of all types – both in and out of uniform. Army Lieutenant Colonel David Dunphy composed this work after years of teaching junior and mid-grade staff officers, and leading units and staffs in varying capacities. It’s not a be-all, end-all, “how to make General” book; rather, it’s a comprehensive anthology of hundreds of timeless tips and tricks on how to make it through the daunting and confusing world of staff operations. In all of the Armed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps) it’s almost assured that an officer or non-commissioned officer (NCO) will serve on one kind of staff or another, probably for more years than one would care to. Managing and leading a staff is tough, thankless work. It’s chaotic, tedious, sometimes unforgiving, and can end a leader’s career faster than a negligent discharge on a parade field. This book is the definitive road map to getting through it all without committing careericide.

If nothing else, The Iron Major Survival Guide provides an illuminating checklist of the things a staff leader and manager should consider when being assigned to or running a staff. Younger officers can also use this book to gain perspective on the challenges inherent in those imminent and crucible Field Grade years, and from that vantage point, make adjustments to their own management techniques in a continued effort to make their organizations better. Refreshingly written by a guy who did not become a General himself, The Iron Major Survival Guide contains plenty of self-deprecating humor and “there I was, scraping more occupational dog poo off my boots” vignettes that every officer and leader can relate to.

Genres: Military Fiction

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2016

Reviews

[Joshua Bowen]

Simple, hilarious, and relevant. Enjoyable and beneficial read.
I would recommend this book primarily as a helpful/informative read for junior officers. May be a bit presumptuous, but I think a number of the themes in here should already be understood by professional FGs, so I would highly encourage this for the "staff leaders of all types," especially new officers/NCOs.

[Robert]

The author dumps a lot of perceived wisdom, from his experience, into the book. Much of the tid-bits of wisdom are widely practiced and taught. However, it is good to have a reminder of how to carry ones self.

[Gregory Gleizer]

Great perspective on army military leadership from an air force guy this was super dope. The lessons are great and super helpful to keep in mind, definitely going to revisit this book after I commission and when I am at captain approaching major if I make it that far

[Jacob]

Nothing new or complex at all. This books states the obvious and glosses over most topics. Overall the book is decent at best. There are way better books out there for personal development.