It’s been my habit when teaching previous courses to occasionally mention additional readings the student may wish to pursue if interested. Note these are purely optional and for individual professional development; there is no requirement to pursue this reading for the course. It may, however, be professionally enhancing in the future.
Ethics and Leadership:
Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher Browning. This book was recommended to me a number of years ago by the research psychiatrist Phil Zombardo (who’s had a long career in studying ethics) and has my strongest recommendation–it should be on the bookshelf of every military officer. Exceptionally well researched, the book examines one reserve police battalion conducting “einzgruppen” (shooting) operations of holocaust victims in Poland and the ethical decisions they made during these operations. What was (and is) stunning about the work is that the members of the unit–none of whom were front line soldiers–were given the choice as to whether or not to participate in the operations. Over time, even those who hesitated eventually became part of the squad of willing executioners through peer pressure, personal rationale, guilt, “patriotism” and a host of other factors. A chilling read and very applicable today.
Policy:
Organizations: The study of organizational culture (especially in DOD) is a fascinating historical read. It may seem odd for those of us who grew up with it, but the role of the U.S. as a global superpower is quite new; prior to WW2 U.S. “global” organizations (such as DOD, the State Dept, CIA, etc) were extremely small, and while they possessed individual cultures of their own they were largely unequipped to deal with their new roles internationally. Books that trace this progression are great reads in terms of how these organizations evolved–and indicative of whether they can change today.
About Face: The Odyessy of an American Warrior by David Hackworth. This is one of my personal favorites. The most living decorated American soldier (at the time), David Hackworth joined the army at 16, fighting in both Korean and Vietnam. His account of the evolution of the organization from the WW2 mindset to one that fought contingencies and irregular warfare (as well as contending with new elements such as nuclear war) is personal, gritty, and a great read.
Once an Eagle by Anton Myer. Myer could be considered the “fictionalized Hackworth”–this one could be either in the leadership or policy section. Myer traces the rise of an American solider from WW1 to a fictionalized Vietnam with remarkable accuracy, stressing how soldiers are challenged in their core beliefs as the institution changes around them. One of those books that should be carried in the knapsack.
The Revolt of the Admirals: The Fight for Naval Aviation by Jeffrey Barlow. In the aftermath of WW2 the Navy came very close to losing it’s air mission to the Air Force, including the loss of its new supercarrier class of ships. The Revolt of the Admirals details a famous incident in which a number of flag officers stood up to this challenge, losing their careers but effectively saving the carrier fleet. This is a fascinating read for how organizations compete-both above the table and below it–to defend their core missions.
theater security decision making 