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Posted: 10/9/2015 4:27:12 PM EDT
I need to make professional reading a new habit, so I am looking for suggestions of where to start. I commission as an Ensign in 6 days, and I am going into the aviation pipeline. Before I start reading books such as Wired for War or any publications focused on the present or future Navy, I would like to build a foundation by reading classics that would help guide me through my time as a JO.
Any help is much appreciated.  |
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Posted: 10/10/2015 2:47:17 AM EDT
[#1]
Become an expert in your field, first. You have A LOT of reading ahead of you if you're going to be flying.
You will make a stronger positive impression on those above you and under you by knowing your job than you will by "professional" reading. You will have plenty of time to develop your leadership side after pilot training. That's my two cents. |
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Posted: 10/10/2015 4:11:49 AM EDT
[#2]
In Love and War, Stockdale
With The Old Breed, Sledge |
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Posted: 10/11/2015 12:23:35 AM EDT
[#3]
Stuka Pilot, Rudel
Samurai!, Sakai In the Company of Heroes, Durant Sea Harrier Over the Falklands, Ward The Mission, the Men, and Me, Blaber |
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Posted: 10/11/2015 12:36:04 AM EDT
[#4]
Once an Eagle (I wish this was required reading for everyone)
Matterhorn (This book is about the author's personal experiences in Vietnam as a young LT but when I read it was like he was describing life on combat outposts in Afghanistan) Company Commander Five Years to Freedom Steel My Soldier's Hearts Band of Brothers One Bullet Away If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge Good luck with everything. Be the leader you want to have. Remember it's OK to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. One of the most important lessons I learned was "It's never about what a leader SAYS, it's always about what a leader DOES that counts." |
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Posted: 10/11/2015 12:47:10 AM EDT
[#5]
starship troopers.
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Posted: 10/11/2015 10:49:21 PM EDT
[#6]
Going on the basis that some things never change, I'd recommend "Caesar's Commentaries" and the military memoirs of General U.S. Grant.
These two are considered to be the finest military memoirs ever written. Good Navy Air novels are "Flight of the Intruder" by Stephen Coonts, and the classic "The Bridges of Toko-Ri" by James A. Michener. Both of these speak to what being Naval Air means. |
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Posted: 10/11/2015 10:55:17 PM EDT
[#7]
Starship Troopers
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Posted: 10/11/2015 10:55:36 PM EDT
[#8]
the sage General Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' is the place to start.
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Posted: 10/12/2015 10:42:05 AM EDT
[#9]
Ender's Game.
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Posted: 10/12/2015 11:46:50 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Ender's Game. this too |
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Posted: 10/12/2015 12:08:36 PM EDT
[#11]
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Posted: 10/12/2015 6:53:19 PM EDT
[#12]
Doesn't the commandant of the Marine Corps have an official reading list. That would be a good one.
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Posted: 10/15/2015 2:53:06 PM EDT
[#13]
The Masks of Command.
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Posted: 10/17/2015 9:29:16 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Doesn't the commandant of the Marine Corps have an official reading list. That would be a good one. http://guides.grc.usmcu.edu/usmcreadinglist This is what your looking for. |
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Posted: 10/22/2015 8:44:46 PM EDT
[#15]
Service, Luttrell
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Posted: 10/23/2015 4:03:00 PM EDT
[#16]
Punk's War, Carroll
When Hell Was In Session, Denton |
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Posted: 10/24/2015 11:45:14 AM EDT
[#17]
If you only read one, this is it.: Into the Mouth of the Cat: The Story of Lance Sijan, Hero of Vietnam by Malcolm McConnell
And this one will ring familiar to anyone in Naval Aviation: Phantom over Vietnam: Fighter Pilot, USMC by John Trotti As ZoomieFoosh said, you will have plenty to read, during flight training. You won't truly be in a leadership role until you get to your first squadron (except maybe when you are duty officer). All you really need to do at first, is to look and act professionally, and concentrate on learning to be a Naval Aviatior. Good luck, and have fun. |
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Posted: 10/24/2015 4:49:47 PM EDT
[#18]
I respectfully disagree with those who tell you this reading can wait.
Yes, flight training is your number one priority. Give it the attention it deserves. It is necessary to be a proficient aviator for you to be of any use to anyone in the fleet. However, it is not sufficient to only be a proficient aviator. You have to be a leader as well. There is plenty of time at the Naval Air Training Command for students to do something besides coursework. Some will watch the game. A few will read a book and try to better themselves. You'll be a better officer by reading and thinking about those who came before you. It also helps you keep any discomfort you may feel in perspective. Read everything by VADM Stockdale that you can get your hands on. |
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Posted: 11/1/2015 1:56:04 PM EDT
[#19]
"The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. It's not a clothing fashion guide. It's about how to communicate in written English in a coherent manner.
MHO, YMMV, etc. |
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Posted: 11/8/2015 3:51:12 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
"The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. It's not a clothing fashion guide. It's about how to communicate in written English in a coherent manner. MHO, YMMV, etc. +1 |
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Posted: 11/8/2015 3:55:32 PM EDT
[#21]
Kipling
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Posted: 11/8/2015 3:58:07 PM EDT
[#22]
Go read fun stuff. Military History, cars, guns, fantasy, whatever. Go hunting. Work on your golf game. You are going to be upside down and ass deep in NATOPS and whatever else for quite a while once you start training and need to be 100% devoted to that process.
Enjoy Pcola. |
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Posted: 11/9/2015 8:37:16 AM EDT
[#23]
Well, I was NPQ'd from aviation less then 48 hours before commissioning. I redesigned Supply Corps and checked into the school's command. I have required reading now, and I'm reading 6 Frigates, which has been amazing so far.
Thanks for the list, I wrote them down so I won't be without options for a long time. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 11/9/2015 11:25:36 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Well, I was NPQ'd from aviation less then 48 hours before commissioning. Well that sucks! The NAMI whammy strikes again. On a positive note, the supply corps is an important job. I have a friend who was in the supply corps, and he was busy all the time. He made several deployments on a couple of different boats, and really did get to "see the world". So give it all you got, and you can have a good career in that field. Good luck. |
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Posted: 11/14/2015 9:41:31 AM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
I need to make professional reading a new habit, so I am looking for suggestions of where to start. I commission as an Ensign in 6 days, and I am going into the aviation pipeline. Before I start reading books such as Wired for War or any publications focused on the present or future Navy, I would like to build a foundation by reading classics that would help guide me through my time as a JO. Any help is much appreciated.
There are some great recommendations in this post, but I'd like to recommend the following Reading list: http://jsou.libguides.com/readinglists It's interesting as it shows "leadership" and "strategy" categories. Here's another good list: http://www.socpac.socom.mil/Lists/Recommended%20Reading%20List/AllItems.aspx When you get to a unit, commanders at different levels will publish their own recommended reading list and it's a great insight into their style of leadership. |
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Posted: 11/14/2015 12:11:13 PM EDT
[#26]
This: http://www.firstworldwar.com/index.htm
It's a multimedia history of the First World War. I ran across it while looking for something else. Once I locate the "something else," I'll list it also. But the First World War site seems to be a good summary of a portion of how the world got to the point of where we are now. Disclosure: I'm not military, nor have I ever been. |
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Posted: 11/15/2015 8:29:03 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Become an expert in your field, first. You have A LOT of reading ahead of you if you're going to be flying. You will make a stronger positive impression on those above you and under you by knowing your job than you will by "professional" reading. You will have plenty of time to develop your leadership side after pilot training. That's my two cents. Pilots are technicians. If he wants to be a technician and not an Officer, than that's great advice. I like his take on it, and hopefully he rejects yours. PIlots who read get promoted past O-3. Pilots who don't? A whole lot of them are looking for jobs right now. |
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Posted: 11/15/2015 10:32:41 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Pilots are technicians. If he wants to be a technician and not an Officer, than that's great advice. I like his take on it, and hopefully he rejects yours. PIlots who read get promoted past O-3. Pilots who don't? A whole lot of them are looking for jobs right now. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Become an expert in your field, first. You have A LOT of reading ahead of you if you're going to be flying. You will make a stronger positive impression on those above you and under you by knowing your job than you will by "professional" reading. You will have plenty of time to develop your leadership side after pilot training. That's my two cents. Pilots are technicians. If he wants to be a technician and not an Officer, than that's great advice. I like his take on it, and hopefully he rejects yours. PIlots who read get promoted past O-3. Pilots who don't? A whole lot of them are looking for jobs right now. Even though it is a moot point now, I was not telling him not to read. I was telling him to worry about reading AFTER pilot training. 2-ish years of focusing on being a technician will not make you a poor officer. Not focusing on your job and worrying about office work is a great way to grow unsafe and sometimes dangerous pilots. I know because I've had experience with young officers too busy with extemporaneous crap to know how to fly the damn plane correctly. I'm sure we all can agree that it is a little more complicated as to how to become a good officer/leader/job expert than just reading. |
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Posted: 11/15/2015 10:55:06 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Even though it is a moot point now, I was not telling him not to read. I was telling him to worry about reading AFTER pilot training. 2-ish years of focusing on being a technician will not make you a poor officer. Not focusing on your job and worrying about office work is a great way to grow unsafe and sometimes dangerous pilots. I know because I've had experience with young officers too busy with extemporaneous crap to know how to fly the damn plane correctly. I'm sure we all can agree that it is a little more complicated as to how to become a good officer/leader/job expert than just reading. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Become an expert in your field, first. You have A LOT of reading ahead of you if you're going to be flying. You will make a stronger positive impression on those above you and under you by knowing your job than you will by "professional" reading. You will have plenty of time to develop your leadership side after pilot training. That's my two cents. Pilots are technicians. If he wants to be a technician and not an Officer, than that's great advice. I like his take on it, and hopefully he rejects yours. PIlots who read get promoted past O-3. Pilots who don't? A whole lot of them are looking for jobs right now. Even though it is a moot point now, I was not telling him not to read. I was telling him to worry about reading AFTER pilot training. 2-ish years of focusing on being a technician will not make you a poor officer. Not focusing on your job and worrying about office work is a great way to grow unsafe and sometimes dangerous pilots. I know because I've had experience with young officers too busy with extemporaneous crap to know how to fly the damn plane correctly. I'm sure we all can agree that it is a little more complicated as to how to become a good officer/leader/job expert than just reading. I think it's okay to read a good military leadership book at some point during technical training. If he can't find that time he's probably not managing time properly. I applaud a JO who wants to learn, because most of them don't. |
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Posted: 11/15/2015 1:55:57 PM EDT
[#30]
Josh,
Not to get in a pissing contest but do you come from an aviation background? I'm just curious as to what experiences your advice is based on. Although your advice is not misguided I just have a difference of opinion based upon my own experiences. |
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Posted: 11/15/2015 5:36:18 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Josh, Not to get in a pissing contest but do you come from an aviation background? I'm just curious as to what experiences your advice is based on. Although your advice is not misguided I just have a difference of opinion based upon my own experiences. Ten years dealing with aviators on CVNs, three years at NSAWC dealing with aviators, and a few years at NSW working with aviators who were non-promotes and moved over to fill support roles there. Yeah, that covers most of my career now that I think about it. |
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Posted: 11/16/2015 2:32:53 AM EDT
[#32]
Anatomy of Glory - Anna Brown. Study of leadership; in particular, Napoleon and the Garde Imperial.
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History by Mahan. |
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