HOW I BECAME A SHAMMER: The Part Of The Army That Was Not shown in commercials

by Leon Williams

When people think about the Army, they often imagine soldiers fighting in war, getting blown up and anything else that they see on T.V. Others may also picture soldiers as being mentally and physically tough. How I became a Shammer is meant as an educational book for future soldiers who are thinking about joining the Army, the soldiers that are currently in and those that have retired. In this book, you can learn most of the strategies and techniques that has been tried for over a decade by soldiers of all ranks to help them get out of work. Although this book is educational in nature and semi fictional, it will allow soldiers to relate on a personal level and be able to find humor in the story that is told. In addition to the educational aspect of this book is that it can also serve as a foundation of knowledge for soldiers to use as they excel through their career. Everyone in the Army shams to an extent although they may not admit it.

153 pages, Paperback

Published January 4, 2017

Reviews

[Mark Lawry · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the introduction Williams explains this is meant to be tongue in cheek and not to be taken too seriously. This was an attempt at 1940s Murphy's Law type humor. He starts out explaining the benefits of volunteering for everything. Those who have been military might remember the adage is that one should never volunteer for anything. Except when you volunteer, you're getting away from the office and/or you're picking the task that you're going to be on.

The problem is he leaves the humor behind and transitions into simple sound advice that we've all heard from any good NCO. Do correspondence courses. Use every penny of the educational benefits available. Williams himself is working on his PhD, paid for by Uncle Sam. Study to win soldier of the month boards. All perfectly sound advice. Yet it is maybe not the most entertaining reading. If you're volunteering for everything and doing everything else Williams suggests then you're heading for a great career, but you're certainly not shamming.

If you're a fellow retired military type, and had a good career, this book will bring back great memories. If you're about to ship off to basic for any military branch I'd highly recommend reading it en route to your first assignment.