USMC Reading List & How to order it for your Command
The 2020 Marine Corps Reading list was recently published in ALMAR 023/20 and with some major updates. The USMC Reading List contains 50 books and is broken up between Profession Of Arms, innovation, Leadership, Strategy, CMC Choice, Fundamentals, podcast & Periodicals.

Profession of Arms
Innovation
Leadership
Strategy
CMC Choice
1 | THE KILL CHAIN: DEFENDING AMERICA IN THE FUTURE OF HIGH-TECH WARFARE | Christian Brose |
Foundational
1 | CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | James Madison, et. al. |
2 | LEARNING (MCDP-7) by United States Marine Corps | United States Government US Marine Corps (Author) |
3 | WARFIGHTING (MCDP-1) by United States Marine Corps | United States Government US Marine Corps (Author) |
Podcasts
- Sea Control (CIMSEC)
- DODReads: What Are You Reading?
- The Dead Prussian
- Horns of a Dilemma
- Net Assessment (War on the Rocks)
- Modern War Institute Podcast
- War Room (US Army War College)
- Wavell Room: Contemporary British Military Thought
- TED Talks Daily
- WSJ The Future of Everything
- Global News Podcast (BBC)
- The Truth of the Matter
- The Security Studies Podcast
- US-China Dialogue Podcast
- Council on Foreign Relations
- The Backstory
Periodicals
- The Cove
- The Forge
- Grounded Curiosity
- Journal of Advanced Military Studies (JAMS)
- Leatherneck
- Marine Corps Gazette
- Modern War Institute
- Proceedings (US Naval Institute)
- Small Wars Journal
- The Strategy Bridge
- War on the Rocks
- Yellow Sheet (Marine Corps Aviation Association)
How to Order the Commandants Reading List
Marine Unit Library Program — The Marine unit library program is a program run by the Marine Corps Association & Foundation, a professional military organization founded over 100 years ago by General John Lejeune and are noted for their two iconic magazines “Leatherneck” and “Marine Corps Gazette”. The foundation arm of the MCAF provides money for the Marine Unit Library Program. This an unconditional gift from MCAF to the unit commanding officer for the purchase of the Marine Corps Reading List.
Once approval for funding is given units will have 90 days to fill out and return the book selection form for processing. Units are able to receive library support every 12 months.
For questions or additional information regarding the Marine Unit Library program, please contact SgtMaj Kevin Bennett, USMC (Ret) at k.bennett(at)mca-marines.org, 703-640-0132 or Mrs Beth Murphy at b.murphy(at)mca-marines.org, 703-640-0144.
DODReads: If the above option does not meet your needs the Army, Navy, Air Force, USMC and Coast Guard reading list can be purchased directly from us. DODReads can process online purchases, quotes, and for larger purchases, we accept payments through Contracting / SAM. We also reinvest our profits into connecting military leaders with reading that challenges. Get a quote here