Progressing Your Career with Literature: Kickstart Your Professional Growth through Book Reading
In the world of military leadership, continuous learning and adaptation are key to success. Retired General James Mattis and Tom Dull, a renowned military historian, have curated a list of books and resources that focus on professional development and military tactics, emphasising the importance of learning from historical combat experiences and leadership studies.
One of the recommended reads is "18 Platoon" by Sydney Jary, a personal account of infantry platoon leadership during World War II. This book offers valuable insights into small-unit leadership in combat situations, making it a staple for junior leaders such as Sergeants and Lieutenants.
Another book on the list is "Not a Gentleman’s War" by Ron Milam, which provides a detailed examination of junior US Army officers’ combat experiences in Vietnam. This book challenges misconceptions and sheds light on command challenges at lower levels, making it particularly relevant for junior officers.
"All day long the noise of battle: an Australian attack in Vietnam" by Gerard Windsor is another recommended read. Focusing on company-level combat commander challenges and the human dimension of war, it is valuable for War Officers and Captains.
For those interested in understanding the geopolitical landscape and the worldviews of various groups, "Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics," by Tim Marshall, is a must-read.
The theme of trust and its importance in a team is explored in "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics," by Daniel James Brown.
"One Bullet Away," by Nathaniel Fick, depicts the pressure on junior officers and the importance of critical and creative thinking in battle. This book was also recommended by several officers and conveys the pressure on junior officers in training, preparation, and combat.
"Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest," by Steven Ambrose, teaches about cohesion, heroism, tactics, good and bad leadership, and infantry leadership. In particular, the book highlights Dick Winters' leadership and instinctive military tactics, especially in chapter 5, "Follow Me."
"Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life," by James Kerr, discusses how leaders build teams to succeed and encourages consideration of a unit's mindset, values, and purpose.
"Infantry Attacks," by Irwin Rommel, encourages reflecting on the past to prepare for future battle, focusing on small-unit tactics in large-scale combat operations, emphasising the importance of good reconnaissance, exploiting the enemy, digging in, and laying a base of fire on the enemy.
General James Mattis emphasised the importance of reading in the Army officer corps, suggesting it helps learn from others' experiences and avoid mistakes. The list is a starting point, a menu of books that have been recommended by fellow officers who have fought and led for the nation over the past thirty years.
In addition to these books, Mattis also endorses hands-on learning from military history and films illustrating armored warfare and combined arms operations. Films like "Fury" (2014) for tank crew tactics, "The Monuments Men" and "A Bridge Too Far" for understanding cultural preservation and operational risk during war, are also recommended.
Such materials are curated as part of ongoing professional military education to ensure leaders develop sound judgment, adaptability, and tactical proficiency. Army leaders aspiring to professional development and tactical mastery are encouraged to delve into these books and resources.
The recommended book "18 Platoon" offers valuable insights into small-unit leadership in combat situations, making it beneficial for junior leaders in the military. "Not a Gentleman’s War" provides a detailed analysis of junior US Army officers’ combat experiences in Vietnam, shedding light on command challenges at lower levels. "All day long the noise of battle" is valuable for War Officers and Captains, focusing on company-level combat commander challenges. For those interested in understanding geopolitical landscape and worldviews, "Prisoners of Geography" is a recommended read. General James Mattis, a retired military leader, emphasizes the importance of learning from others' experiences and avoiding mistakes through books, and also endorses hands-on learning from military history and films like "Fury" for tank crew tactics and "The Monuments Men" for understanding cultural preservation and operational risk during war.
