Military Professional Reading discussion

Hello All,

First, welcome. Some background: I have more than 22 years in the U.S. Military, enlisted in the Coast Guard, Officer in the Marine Corps, and now in the Marine Corps Reserve. My wife was both Army and Navy, dad was Air Force, and other family members in every branch back to the American Revolution.

I've been of Goodreads.com for some time and never saw a forum dedicated to military professionals, although we are some of the most voracious readers around, so I created this.

I'm not sure how to best shape this forum - devide between military branches, officer / enlisted, genre (history, current affairs, geagraphic region, etc), and will take any advice anyone has to offer.

At the end of the day, my desire is to have a forum where active and former military professionals and civilians can discuss some of the great books emerging from the past 10 years of conflict, fundamentals that we're all familiar with, and some of the less than worthy books that are out there.

I would be particularly interested in foreign military members to join and offer insight and alternative perspectives on common challenges, history, culture, doctrine, etc.

Your comments, recommendations, and ideas are appreciated.

Semper Fi,

Brian D

Brian, I sent you a message after joining the club. I sent the notice to several military friends I know in the Quantico/Fredericksburg area. Hopefully they'll sign on. In the interests of open disclosure, I'm an author of military books and your book club might be a way to get expose...and the opportunity to chat with other vets. Regarding recent conflicts, I have two books in print: "Operation Phantom Fury, The Assault and Capture of Fallujah, Iraq," "Boots on the Ground," and Battle for the City of the Dead," that you might be interested in. Drop me aline. Semper Fi, Dick Camp

Brian,
My recommendation would be that you do not divide the group up into categories (branch, genre, etc) until there are more members. With only the current 10 members comments will seem to get lost if there are a lot of categories to post in. Maybe just start with two categories, "Books" and "Group Format," although you can probably come up with better names for them. Just my opinion.

Mike

Brian/Mike, I concur, too soon to have categories. I'm working on spreading the word. Dick

As a civilian, I'd like to propose what would be interesting to me. It would be nice to have a folder dedicated to book lists. For example - the folder could contain threads with topics below. I'm not sure on the topics as I'm actually here to learn more and find recommendations.

1. Combat
2. Intelligences
3. Interrogation
4. History
5. Fiction

I'd also like to request a second folder for Questions. Here, people (mostly the civilians) can create a thread asking questions about military protocol/life. I'm asking for this because I read romantic suspense. The past 5 or so years, there is a huge increase in "heroes" who are Navy Seals and special ops. Many are CIA or FBI. I don't read it for the accuracy, but there are times I question the research an author put into the book because even my lack of knowledge makes me question the book. It would be nice to be able to run certain scenes by those who have lived the life or are currently living it.

It may seem I'm asking all the military members to educate me. Not exactly...more like I'd like some of the misconceptions corrected. Yes, I realize it is fiction, but I expect authors to complete accurate research before they write a subject. It's one of the things I look at when I review books. I do something of the same in the group I moderate.

Bookaddict,Good thought. I don't know how many books I have picked up because they "looked good"...interesting title, dust jacket had an eyecatching photo...and the author was one that I recognized as "military" oriented. Got about two or three chapters into the darn thing and found the guy's plot was unrealistic and unbelievable. Disappointing. I figured I could write one that was accurate and entertaining...so I did. "Echo Among Warriors" is based on my experience as a Marine company commander in Vietnam...and over 25 years in the Corps, much of which as an infantry commander/troop leader. Sorry for the shameless marketing...but how else can we get goodreads before the public. Keep your head down and Semper Fi, Dick

I think that lists would be a good thing, although I might look at the categories as:
. Historical
. Fiction
. Current Events
. Professional Reading Lists

I think it would be nice to show what CSA, CNO, CJCS, etc are publishing as good to read lists. The last category would be a good place to post those.

DL

All the reading lists are available on the Pentagon Library's website: http://whs.mil.campusguides.com/readi...
.

Hi folks, figured I'd drop in and say hi. I'm ex-army - Australian Regular Army (6 years) and Reserves (2 years) and served in the late 1970's early-mid 1980's. I was an Infantry NCO and loved it and I love reading military history, from the Ancients to todays conflicts, land, air & sea.

Hello. I served for a total of 14 years in the U.S. Army. The first seven in the Army Reserve and Idaho Army National Guard (1986-1993). From 1993 - 2000 I was in the Regular Army. I have been a police officer since October 2000.

During those fourteen years I was signal corp, 36C - Wire Systems Installer, Armor crewmember and 96R GSR or Military Intelligence. MI was when I was on active duty.

I enjoy military history and also I like reading about military firearms and other equipment and weapons.

Thanks to Rick for inviting me to the group. I served 25 years as a Military Policeman in Canada's regular force.

My reading tastes are many and varied, but lean heavily toward military history and weaponry.

I also want to thank AR for inviting me. I served 3 yrs in the Army National Guard as a linguist and 4 yrs on active duty in the Signal Corps in late 70's early 80s. Currently I am working for the DoD as a civilian - working in a data center.

My reading tends to be history in general and military history in particular, historical fiction as well as some thrillers and Science Fiction once in a while

Big thanks to Aussie Rick for alerting me to this group. Happy, good to see you here as well. I'm a veteran of the Vietnam War, '67-'68. 4th Infantry, 1st Air Cavalry and then 1st Aviation Surveillance in Hue-Phu Bai.

Nice to see Bobby, Happy, Jim & Checkman all here in the group :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Nice to see Bobby, Happy, Jim & Checkman all here in the group :)"

Rick, you should have warned me about . I'm reading about guys dropping left and right. Holy shit...what a mess! Seriously, (no other way) this is an unbelievable accounting.

It's riveting reading once you get started isn't it? I found it hard to put down at times. It also makes you question some of the directives/orders passed down the chain-of-command.

I added to the book shelf - it was on our PME reading list in both ROTC and 101st back in the 80's

Looks like an interesting book. I remember when I was in the army, nearly every year we had to watch the classic movie Zulu with Michael Caine as it showed leadership.

Hi all,
Thanks to Aussie Rick for the invite. I served in the British Army in the 1980s as a regular for six years then as a reservist for 20. I remain involved with veterans, serving military personnel and families through voluntary work with the Royal British Legion and its annual Poppy Appeal: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

Hi. Thanks to AR for the invite to the group. I am a retired USAF fighter pilot. I originally enlisted but decided that working for a living was too hard, so I became an officer. Served almost half the career overseas in Germany, Italy and Korea. Now work as a consultant providing test expertise to DoD. Have a daughter in the US Navy, assigned to an EOD unit. Will read virtually anything dealing with history, scifi or fantasy. Of course, military history is at the top.

Wow Mike! Your daughter is an EOD tech? I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!

happy wrote: "I added to the book shelf - it was on our PME reading list in both ROTC and 101st back in the 80's"

I remember it well from R.O.T.C. in the 80's as well. I still own my copy. Bought it at the AAFES bookstore on Ft. Knox in 91.

Not a tech yet, Jim. Works the armory for now but will start her training soon.

That's excellent, Mike. Nerve-wracking, but excellent. Good luck to her and congratulations to you; I just checked out your photos and can tell you're a proud dad.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Looks like an interesting book. I remember when I was in the army, nearly every year we had to watch the classic movie Zulu with Michael Caine as it showed leadership."

I liked Zulu also. I also liked Zulu Dawn - which is the story of Islandlwana and stars Peter O'Toole and well and Burt Lancaster.

Greetings, all.

I'm currently in my final semester of AFROTC and will be commissioning this May as a Combat Navigator.

My reading interests primarily swing around war memoirs but I love military history as a whole and am currently trying to make my way through the CSAF's reading list for the year.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.!

Hi Elijah, best wishes on completing your final semester.

Any particular period or area of military history you are extra keen on reading?

Best wishes for a long and successful career Elijah.

Elijah wrote: "My reading interests primarily swing around war memoirs but I love military history as a whole and am currently trying to make my way through the CSAF's reading list for the year..."

Welcome Elijah, good luck in your career. I was just looking at the CSAF reading list today as well. Some good books there to pickup. You will find many experts here to advise on great books.

Good luck on your career Elijah - and welcome

Welcome Henry/Hank

Hi Hank and welcome to the group :)

Hey y'all I'm Maxx, but everyone calls me Juice. I'm an active duty Corporal, and an Infantry squad leader. It's good to see such a diverse section of the armed forces here. As well as some great recommendations, that I'm looking forward to reading on this deployment.

Hi Maxx, good to see you here - Infantry squad leader - the backbone of the Army/Marines eh!

Where are you currently deployed?

Hank and Maxx, welcome to the group. Glad you are here.

I'm on my third deployment, sadly this one is to Okinawa.

Welcome Maxx

Welcome gentlemen.

On my way to R&R in Tokyo years ago we had a short layover in Okinawa and there was so much animosity towards Americans then they wouldn't allow us off the plane for a 2 hour break. Is that still a problem?

Gentlemen, I was stationed at Camp Schwab in 1971-72. As the officer of day, one night (that doesn't sound right) I received a call from Post 1 (entrance to the camp) that a crowd of Okinawans were assembling with their protest signs. Within minutes another call came through that the crowd had come onto the base and smashed the windows of the guard shack and pushed the sentry back (fortunately he wasn't injured). The duty platoon was called out and they rushed forward...much to my chagrin...because all they had were M-14 and bayonets. The Japanese had long bamboo poles...not a nice combination...we could either shoot or bayonet their ass or get beaten to death...neither situation was good. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and the Japanese backed off, as was their plan. They were trying to stir up trouble and wanted someone to get hurt. In any event I survived the experience. Semper Fi, dikc

Another interesting story, thanks for sharing Dick.

Things at camp Schwab are still not as good as they can be. liberty is secured for all E-5 and below at 2300, the Japanese people still hate us. They picket the gates still and no drinking outside of any US base so when we come back on from out into town we have to blow less than a .01

Maxx, I'm sorry to hear that. Okinawa offers some very fine beaches and sight seeing attractions...World War II sites, Japanese architecture, etc...but if the people don't want you there, it makes it tough to do anything. I know the base can get "real" old fast...only so much gymn before climbing the walls. The news media in the States have pointed out the Okinawans want us off the island. This has been going on for years...time for us to pull out. This will probably happen sometime in the future but that doesn't help you now. Sorry. Can you volunteer for off-island deployements or R&R? Keep your head down, Dick

Hello, everyone, and thanks, Jim, for the invite. Goodreads shows my name as James but I also prefer Jim. I served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1996. I enlisted when I was 17 and served as an enlisted Marine for just under nine years, then went through a commissioning program and served the remainder as an officer and retired as a captain. I started in the infantry in the 60mm mortar section in a rifle company weapons platoon - I also carried the platoon radio and cross-trained as a machine gunner - and stayed in that MOS through my first enlistment, winding up as a squad leader in an 81mm mortar platoon. I reenlisted and changed MOS to data systems and spent most of the rest of my career in data and telecommunications, although I also spent some time as a rifle/pistol range coach, career planner, and had a short disastrous time as a DI (I still had somewhat of an anger management problem and got busted and relieved for assaulting a recruit. Looking back, I was out of line and they were right to get me out of there, but it stung to become a corporal again right about when I'd been about to pick up staff sergeant.) Didn't stop me from getting into the commissioning program, miraculously enough.
There were three kids in my family and we were all in the Marine Corps before we turned 18. Must have been something Mom put in our oatmeal. Our stepdad had been in the Navy in WWII, and our grandfather in the Army in the same war, but I was the first Marine.
I have been intensely interested in military history and anything related to it since about eighth grade, reading books, seeing films, and playing tactical/strategic board games like the Avalon Hill products. I also love SF and am working on a military science fiction novel of my own.
After I retired I started a second career as a psychotherapist and I've worked with vets in a couple of jobs, and I'm also particularly interested in books about the psychology of war, like On Killing and On Combat by Dave Grossman (he's a psychologist who's also a retired Ranger lieutenant colonel.)
Maxx, sorry to hear that things are like that now on Oki. That was my first duty station (Camp Hansen), and back then we got along okay with the civilians for the most part. We had to have a ville patrol on every street in Kinville outside the base but that was more for trouble between Marines so we could get them back to the base instead of having the Japanese police grab them. Good luck with visits to friendlier places if/when your battalion goes on float and in future duty stations.

Hi Jim and welcome to the group, thanks for a great intro on your career. I think you should enjoy yourself here :)

Welcome Jim and wondered if this might be of interest: by Ben Shephard. I have it on my TBR but not yet bought a copy.

Thanks, Rick, Geevee. I hadn't heard of that book, looks interesting! I'm putting it on my TBR list too.

Welcome Jim

Hello, this is Deborah L Parker and I'm a retired army reserve officer and also an author. I did add a book to the list about the life and leadership of my late uncle aka Hardcore, a Vietnam Vet and Army Ranger Hall of Fame inductee. Good to be in this group!

Welcome Deborah and David.