Overview

The United States military has evolved from a tiny and distrusted institution at the margins of government into a central element of America and American power, yet the military is sometimes hard to comprehend because of its unique language, history, and culture. Paula Thornhill first provides a primer for understanding America's military services. She then traces the military's evolution from the nation's founding through the present day to reveal how major American experiences repeatedly reshape the military. This examination offers a constant reminder that the armed services are the products of experience and accident. Thus, today's twenty-first century military reflects patterns of adaptation and agglomeration, and so may only partially reveal the ideal military America would build if starting from a blank slate. Ultimately, this book seeks to open a window into the American military in such a way that the reader can see it, for good or for ill, for what it fundamentally is--a reflection of the nation, its priorities, and its people.

Full Product Details

9781682470732

Table of Contents

Reviews

A must read for anyone interested in the United States military as an institution and as a reflection of the nation it serves. --Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF (Ret.), 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President, Kansas State University

Paula Thornhill's Demystifying the American Military offers 'one-stop-shopping' for those interested in the American military and defense policy. It's the ideal primer that allows civilians to bridge the gap between American society and the insular world of the military that defends it. This book should be required reading for current and aspiring national security officials. --Dr. Mara Karlin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy for strategy and force development; Director, Strategic Studies, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University America's service members enjoy a tremendous level of admiration and respect from a population that has little experience or personal connection to them. In Demystifying the American Military, Paula Thornhill offers a primer for those unfamiliar with the military, developing a useful framework for understanding the ongoing, dynamic relationships that shape it. The book provides a succinct, readable history of each service branch, transformed by war experiences, controversies, and challenging decisions. Paula shares an in-depth review of the human factors that impact the military, raising fundamental questions about its purpose, culture, and evolution. Through a lifetime of service, General Thornhill has a well-established reputation as an extraordinary patriot, teacher, and mentor. I was fortunate to work with Paula; and appreciated firsthand her vision, intellect, and clarity of purpose. She has a tremendous capacity to simplify complex issues, sifting through enormous amounts of information and focusing on the most salient points. Readers will recognize these skills in the pages of this book, and will find it an invaluable contribution to the understanding of this vital American institution. --General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret.), 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff As America's population continues to grow and its all-volunteer military shrinks, these two American institutions are slowly drifting apart. Demystifying the American Military comes at a critical time in the American experience and serves as a bridging tool to enhance civil society's understanding of their professional military servants. --Tyrell O. Mayfield, co-editor and author of Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics Demystifying the American Military eases the reader into military world with early 'basic training' chapters on U.S. military organizations and the individuals that serve in them, then deftly explores how the military evolved into the vast, vital American institution of the 21st century. If an officer candidate, new defense department civilian, or family member asked for a single book recommendation to understand the U.S. military I'd point them immediately to Demystifying the American Military. It's a must read for anyone interested in the United States military as an institution and as a reflection of the nation it serves. --General Richard B. Myers, USAF (Ret.), 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; President, Kansas State University Using a framework that makes the complex, byzantine makeup of defense institutions easily digestible, Demystifying the American Military provides a solid primer for those wishing to understand the historical, structural, and cultural nuances that shape and drive the military institutions of the United States - from the founding of the Republic to today. --Nathan K. Finney, co-editor and author of Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics

Author Information

Paula G. Thornhill retired from the U.S. Air Force as a brigadier general. She commanded at the group level and served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, on the Air Staff, at U.S. Strategic Command, and as the special assistant to the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She is now a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation and adjunct faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available