Reading List

Colleges & Universities United States Military Academy - West Point
1

<p>Are any of you guys going to read anything before you go? I’ve found some really good stuff, both at the bookstore and online. I know we have a long time to go, but I want to start prepping now. I’m an overachiever, but I want to be the best in my profession possible. There’s so much information out there that I could never learn it all. But why not get started now?</p>

<p>Websites</p>

<p>-<a href=“Army Field Manuals”>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/&lt;/a&gt; : This website has EVERYTHING anyone could EVER want to know about ANYTHING in the Army. And I do mean everything. This is for the most part definitely not stuff we’d have to know the first year (or at least I’d think).
-<a href=“Bugle Notes: Learn This!”>http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/inspirations/buglenotes.html&lt;/a&gt; (a good portion of Bugle Notes)
-<a href=“http://www.west-point.org/parent/parent-forum/cbtfaqs.html”>http://www.west-point.org/parent/parent-forum/cbtfaqs.html&lt;/a&gt; (Answered almost all the questions I had about R-Day)
-<a href=“Advice From A West Point Graduate, Class of 2001”>http://www.west-point.org/academy/malo-wa/inspirations/GradAdvice1.html&lt;/a&gt; (advice on boots and that kind of thing)</p>

<p>Books
-Small Unit Leadership : A Commonsense Approach
-The Combat Leader’s Field Guide
-The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual
-The U.S. Army Survival Manual (this is a cool book. I’ve had it for a long time. Go out and hike in the woods for a day and see if you can do any of the stuff. I had a blast.)
-Department of the Army Soldier’s Manual of Common Tasks (I think they actually use this at WP).
-Once an Eagle: This is on the top of the recommended reading list from the 'Dant.
-The US Army Combat Skills Handbook
-On Killing (this is a book about the psychology of soldiers in combat. I just started reading it.)
-On Guerilla Warfare (written by Mao Tse-Tung)
-The Art of War (Sun-Tzu)
-The Art of War (Machiavelli)
-Then there are the obvious: Absolutely American, and Duty First. </p>

<p>There’s a ton more, but that’s what I’ve got so far. I’ve already ordered several of these books, and I plan to read them as R-Day approaches. Laugh at me if you want, but I want to be ready if I end up going (which I probably will, if I get a nomination)</p>

2

<p>(hiding head in shame)</p>

<p>I’m reading some of this stuff and it’s my DAUGHTER that’s interested. I’d add “The Long Gray Line”.</p>

<p>And if you haven’t seen the National Geographic series of videos, buy it. Now. </p>

<p>Oh, and I stumbled across the CBT schedule from 2001…here’s the URL:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.west-point.org/parent/wpp-net/CBT_01/[/url]”>http://www.west-point.org/parent/wpp-net/CBT_01/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Nothing like knowing exactly what will happen.</p>

3

<p>The NG Video series is wonderful and great for any Academy bound student. We are wondering where the students in the video are now as they were all first years during 9/11 and wish they would do an update. We’ve watched it twice as a family. Absolutely American is a great read also. It’s interesting many of these books are what my son reads for enjoyment. Marines, your reading list makes me more certain he’s choosing the right path. Enjoy your senior year though! JM</p>

4

<p>I’m definitely getting the NG series! I heard that there’s something like 48 hours worth of footage on them! I think I’m asking for it for Christmas.</p>

<p>JM, I actually enjoyed Duty First more than Absolutely American. However, they’re both awesome! But here’s the book that first motivated me to become interested in WP: Battle Dress, by Amy Efaw. It’s about a young woman’s experience in Beast. I fell in love with WP as soon as I read it. JM, I’m kind of confused. I would imagine that your son is a Junior, considering your name. :wink: Is he applying to all of the Academies? And I’ll definitely be enjoying my senior year! All my stress is gone now that I know I can go to somewhere like WP. I actually ENJOY reading the books I listed above, and always have.</p>

5

<p>Wow! I wrote Mr. Ed Ruggero (Duty First) about the impact his book had on me, and he wrote me back! I’m soooo excited!</p>

6

<p>Junior when I joined CC as we approached summer seminar…seniormom now but haven’t changed my name :-)</p>

7

<p>Ah, ok. I know this question doesn’t really belong under this thread, but I’ve been talking with a parent who has a daughter at WP and a daughter at USNA. I was asking him about the differences the two see between the Academies. He said that one of the major differences was how they treat women. He said that WP tended to be more sensitive to women, but that Navy/Marines has more options for women in all (i.e., flying jets). He said that women end up in a supporting role. I don’t know if that’s what I want… I’m so confused right now. I look back, and I realize that I wrote this message with the assumption that I was in the Naval Academy. Obviously that’s not the case, and I don’t want anyone to think I’m being pompous or arrogant or anything. I’m just trying to sort this all out just in case I DO get in.</p>

8

<p>I see women on the injured/killed in action list in Iraq. Doesn’t sound like a supporting role to me. Talk to as many people as you can, then make your decision based on what YOU want to do in the military and just HOW close to the action you really want to be. Good Luck.</p>

9

<p>Marines4me - </p>

<p>Thanks for tossing that observation into the mix…it confirmed an impression I was developing. Better climate at WP for women, fewer career options. I know that my D is heavily focused on determining possible career paths in advance for this reason.</p>