Britain’s Secret Defences: Civilian Saboteurs, Spies and Assassins During the Second World War

Britain’s Secret Defences: Civilian Saboteurs, Spies and Assassins During the Second World War by Andrew Chatterton is an intriguing foray into super-secret guerrilla warfare plans developed by the British during World War II in anticipation of a German invasion. Early in the war, it became apparent that German forces intended to invade Britain. Several factions within the British government and military believed this invasion was inevitable. While leadership made plans to repel the Germans, others prepared for the worst.

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Dodgebomb: Outside the Wire in the Second Iraq War

The author’s detailed description of the Iraq landscape plus the care and attention he gives to the development of his characters are both prime points of this quick read. He does an excellent job of providing a familiar environment to those who have served while simultaneously bringing along the uninitiated reader. The reader will identify with 2LT Fitz as he navigates the early days of his army career in the most inhospitable of environments.

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Oath of Enlistment – It’s Your Oath!

You’ve taken the Oath of Enlistment to the Constitution, and perhaps administered it, too.

When’s the last time you read the U.S. Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, though? Your perspective on the meaning of those words changes over time. Revisit it now!

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A Young Man of Montana: From Hard Youth to Hawaii Muleskinner

In A Young Man of Montana: From Hard Youth to Hawaii Mule-skinner, Dr. Daniel T. Miller chronicles the story of army soldier Irvin Atchison. He embarks on a journey from the windswept badlands of Sidney, Montana to serve in Hawaii during Imperial Japan’s early conquest of mainland Asia. The Montana of Atchison’s youth was a hard and beautiful place where the Indian Wars and closing of the American West were fresh in history’s memory.

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The Blackhorse in Vietnam

The primary goal of The Blackhorse in Vietnam is to show that US armored cavalry forces in the Vietnam War, showcased here by the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, were highly effective from a military force-on-force perspective. The US Army initially asserted these types of units would be a hindrance in the war, not a help. Donald Snedeker is the 11th Cavalry unit historian.

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Leading Lessons – It’s Your Leadership

The leadership experience from the U.S. Navy prompted my Leading Lessons from multiple leaders, who missed one critical step as they tried passing on good leadership principles: first, know yourself, then know others. Leading Lessions – It’s Your Leadership highlights covers it.

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Mars Adapting: Military Change During War

Mars Adapting examines what makes some military organizations better at this contest than others. The book explores the internal institutional factors that promote and enable military adaptation. It employs four cases, drawing upon one from each of the U.S. armed services. Each case was an extensive campaign, with several cycles of action/counteraction. In each case, the military institution entered the war with an existing mental model of the war they expected to fight.

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20-Year Letter: An Afghanistan Chronicle

I would recommend this book to any military member that has not deployed. It is both a good primer on what to expect in a future deployment and a sneak peek into a deployment for someone who may not have had the opportunity. It may also fill a tactical level gap between policy makers, academics, or thought leaders that make recommendations using the military tool of national power.

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Lessons from the Navy

Lessons From the Navy is a well-written, professionally published work highlighting great thought topics and behaviors I highly encourage all aspiring leaders to grasp and implement, but onlyif ready. It is a good, easy read for someone who is ready to consume the content, but there is an especially important realization and understanding to grasp before spending time in this book.

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