I just picked this up from the bookstore and look forward to reading it: Amazon.com: Prodigal Soldiers: How the Generation of Officers Born of Vietnam Revolutionized the American Style of War (An Ausa Institute of Land Warfare Book): James Kitfield: Books
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Originally posted by Albany Rifles View PostMust be nice to be in academia and have all of this time to read while your cadets are beavering away on their assignments!!!
As you probably know from teaching as an adjunct, you probably spend 3-4 times the amount of time on a lesson as does a student. Reading the assignment, coming up with a game plan on how to present it, looking for additional material/resources to try and make the subject come alive, etc. Throw in office hours, additional duties, and what appears to be a cozy schedule is actually full-time work. I'm not complaining, as there are definitely less enjoyable jobs out there."So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3
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Originally posted by Shek View PostI typically read in spurts with 30 minutes here and 30 minutes there. Over breaks I get to tear through books depending on what the family is doing. For example, I read four books over the Thanksgiving Break and Prodigal Soldiers will be book #4 since then. Christmas was spent watching sick kids, driving to the in-laws, etc., and so I didn't get to read much at all.
As you probably know from teaching as an adjunct, you probably spend 3-4 times the amount of time on a lesson as does a student. Reading the assignment, coming up with a game plan on how to present it, looking for additional material/resources to try and make the subject come alive, etc. Throw in office hours, additional duties, and what appears to be a cozy schedule is actually full-time work. I'm not complaining, as there are definitely less enjoyable jobs out there.
I understand the reading in spurts. I am currently reading Lee's Endangered Left about Sigel and Hunter in the Shenandoah - 1864 to get ready for a tour next month. I stepped down a Scoutmaster but have become the District Eagle Scout Coordinator, a Unit Commissioner, and Vice Chair of District Committee...this voluntyeer stuff is just killing my time.
I find most of my reading gets done after 9 PM with a ball game on!
BTW, let me know how you like the book“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
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Originally posted by Shek View PostI typically read in spurts with 30 minutes here and 30 minutes there. Over breaks I get to tear through books depending on what the family is doing. For example, I read four books over the Thanksgiving Break and Prodigal Soldiers will be book #4 since then. Christmas was spent watching sick kids, driving to the in-laws, etc., and so I didn't get to read much at all.
As you probably know from teaching as an adjunct, you probably spend 3-4 times the amount of time on a lesson as does a student. Reading the assignment, coming up with a game plan on how to present it, looking for additional material/resources to try and make the subject come alive, etc. Throw in office hours, additional duties, and what appears to be a cozy schedule is actually full-time work. I'm not complaining, as there are definitely less enjoyable jobs out there.Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.
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I'm about halfway through right now, and having read Colin Powell's and Schwartzkopf's autobiographies, a lot of the material is very familiar. One thing that has been fascinating to read about is the high rate of fatalities within the USAF during their training missions during the Cold War."So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3
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I finished the book last night. It does a good job in telling the story of the Vietnam era generation of officers that rose to command in ODS as well as the story of their mentors that commanded the Army through the 1970s and put into place the systems that came to fruition in ODS. Having read Powell's and Schwartzkopf's book before, I don't think that I gleaned a whole lot of new information or insights, so if someone has already read either of those books, I wouldn't make this book a must read recommendation.
I'll try to write up my review tomorrow."So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3
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Originally posted by Shek View PostOne thing that has been fascinating to read about is the high rate of fatalities within the USAF during their training missions during the Cold War.
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Into the Storm: A Study In Command
Clancy's later stuff has held little fascination and much disappointment for me. This departure, however, into semi auto-biographical work (I know that he did something similar with Chuck Horner) was, for me, particularly revealing along the lines of Shek's offer here.
Franks' own post-Vietnam experience impressively mirrored the Army's own re-birth. That he was a combat-arms officer and an astute student of battle added credibility to insights regarding the renovation and expansion of the Army's education and training base during the twenty years between 1971-1991.
I felt that Franks largely portrayed the angst existing between Schwartzkopf and himself appropriately when describing events leading up to ODS. He was balanced and not particularly pre-occupied with the surrounding debate, it seemed.
A very introspective and intellectual commander. Sorta reminds me of Hermann Hoth a bit. Easy to underestimate in a beguiling, grand-fatherly type of way."This aggression will not stand, man!" Jeff Lebowski
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." Lester Bangs
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Originally posted by BadKharma View PostWhat were the causes of the fatalities? Was it intensive training leading to risks being taken in order to more accurately tune training to actual combat?"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3
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I think also som eof it may have changed with the change in tactics. The advent of SAMs forced pilots down on the deck...where the Earth-aircraft interface chances greatly increased!
I can remember inthe early 1980s when the Air Force and Army were brushing up AirLand Battle doctrine. It was almost a daily occurence to see 2 F-16s scream across the landscape at abouit 200 feet practicing what was called Battlefield Area Interdiction....sort of an H&I fires at 500 mph. And you would also see Jaguars, Phantoms and F104s() doing the same thing. This may have also caused some of the casualties as well.“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
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