"The short answer is if I had sent the current Marine reading list to General Gray, he would have immediately relieved me of my duties, told me to submit my retirement papers, pack my trash and go home. The current list is a professional embarrassment to the Marine Corps."
Yes sir, you are correct. The current reading list is akin to recommending "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" alongside "one Fish two Fish" as 2 of five volumes 'For Any Math Student'. Maybe this is why the USMC thought 31 Amphibs = 38(+) Amphibs?
I came for the free beer and stayed for this interview! Next, I shot over to look at the current CMC reading list to find it was mush. I had to know why. From ALMAR 23/20: "To ensure the Commandant's Professional Reading Program (CPRP) remains relevant, current, and promotes professional discussions amongst all Marines. The Commandant's Professional Reading List (CPRL) has removed the rank distinction and consolidated the list of publications into five categories.
2. The CPRL is arranged into five categories: Commandant's Choice, Profession
of Arms, Innovation, Leadership, and Strategy. Each year, Marines shall read a
minimum of five books from the CPRL." - Almar 023/20
This sort of 'rank egalitarianism' just waters down expectations and makes sub par performance by senior SNCOs/Os more acceptable. Heaven forbid we foster a different professional intellectual focus based on rank (and expected responsibility). Not to mention, we were always free to read from other levels of the reading list (and did). As a habitual grumbler and inveterate reader anyway, I took a while to warm up to the reading list, but I eventually did. I found it to be a good ice breaker and self help resource for Marines of different ranks who had questions and ideas to contribute. (P.S. - Also, the current reading list includes podcasts and that's a dangerous toy to play with. I can see identifying specific episodes that are already published and in the can, but a podcast in general as part of a 'pay attention to' list can become problematic, especially if the podcast is a going business.)
One of the best things I have read in Compass Points.
I have been an avid, life long reader of military history, theory, strategy, tactics, operations, biographies and auto biographies. Growing up in a home without television I started to read from my grandfather’s extensive library. My focus was school, sports, gardening and reading. Once commissioned I was surprised by the reading habits, or lack thereof by many of my peers. When General Gray pushed the reading program I was an enthusiastic supporter. I believed it was absolutely critical to a professional military force. I was continuously surprised when many peers read the financial page of the WSJ daily but avoided professional reading. I agree that the evolution of the reading program has not been progress. No other human endeavor is like war and books on business management are of limited value to war fighters. A few thoughts are perhaps applicable:
1. 7 hours of physical training and 7 hours of professional reading per week seem to be easily achievable. 12-15 books per year is not too much. 20 books per year for a Field Grade Officer should be an average. I play golf. An 18 hole round is 4 hours plus. I never had time for it during my career. That is not to say it could not have been integrated. I was just unable to fit it in.
2. Unit professional development to discuss books is sadly neglected. Facilitating such discussion in a Socratic method is sadly neglected.
3. Balancing your profession with your personal, family life requires great discipline. Too many Marine Officers are failures in both because of their inability to prioritize.
4. There is an extensive amount of reading in the British, French and German realms. Many of these books exist in English translation but are not as easy to find. These jewels remain largely undiscovered.
5. My professional library is a prize possession even though large parts have wandered off never to return and space constraints have made me cull it. But, I still add 12-15 books a year.
6. I retired 24 years ago and wish I had read much of what I have read in the last 24 years.
7. It is a leader’s obligation to get to know their subordinates. This includes understanding what they have read. A good leader queries his new join on family, assignments, reading, hobbies, schools attended etc. An hour welcome aboard interview and discussion by the Bn Cmdr is not wasted time or undo familiarity. I was, over my entire career surprised by how little seniors knew about their subordinates. They were often just an individual to be assigned tasks. Three years after graduating from the Naval War College with highest distinction I had a RevO recommend I attend TLS. Over an entire 26 career I had maybe three reporting seniors even discuss a book from the Commandant’s reading list with me.
On reflection I must say that the reading list is the foundation. What officers do with it is the true value and in that regard we fall woefully short. Warrior, scholar and athlete repeatedly falls short.
One of my assignments was the personnel officer of Force Troops at Camp Lejeune where I made additional duty assignments. Many of those came from the handicap list at the golf course. A 10 handicap or less guaranteed an assignment…They never complained.
Some people have a deep and compelling need to see, to learn, to know what is around the bend, what is over the next ridge. Yes, stalking game in a known area has its own rewards, but some hunters (learners!) absolutely must leave the known and seek the unknown.
For these explorers of human history, the history of conflict, is vast. Other trail blazers have helped chart the unknown, but they would be the first to affirm that there is much more to explore and learn. In other words, they know enough to know that they don't know all. But, they do know some trails to help others get to the deep back country.
Regrettably, too many today are living in deep mental canyons (AKA as indoctrination!) and they choose not to expend the effort to make the climb to the great charted and uncharted world. They are recognizable by their behaviors: When presented information that doesn't fit their mental canyons, they choose to "double down" --- essentially saying that they already know all that is relevant or will ever be relevant about a topic (FD???). Some of the more egregious types will only accept people that live in their specific and narrow mental canyon; others get "disinvited" "censored" or "cancelled". Do not expect them to ever read a book outside their mental canyons.
Having known General Van Riper for over 45 years, I can attest that he was one always exploring the limits of knowledge, always challenging the thinking and understanding of others. Perhaps, that made others uncomfortable, bruised sensitive egos, but for most of us his actions stimulated understanding and competence. It is past time to permit this Warrior-Scholar to once again be able to teach at the University he founded.
The current Marine Corps Reading List indicates that the Commandant, Assistant Commandant, Commanding General of the Training and Education Command, and President of the Marine Corps University are not well versed in important military literature, or else they are inattentive to one of their fundamental responsibilities. How else to account for the travesty that this so-called professional reading list represents.
Many of today’s senior Marine Corps leaders disparage the “old guys” for being out of touch and behind the times. The Wolf longs for the Corps they led. It had the capability and capacity to respond to crises around the globe and was filled with general officers who were known to read and study. It appears to me those in the top billets today are living off the reputations the so-called “old guys” earned. They give no evidence that they are aware let alone knowledgeable of essential professional literature.
That said, for the true learners (hunters), satellite photos, while useful, only provide a superficial layer of understanding ... analogous to the current trends of quickly hitting Wikipedia to "fake" deep knowledge of a topic. True understanding comes from immersion in the environment, living in it, not treating it as "flyover country."
Similarly, it is only by reading serious books seriously and mixing that reading with thoughtful experience that one is able to develop an understanding of an area. Mortimer J. Adler, editor of the Britannica and a lifelong advocate for reading and understanding the canon of Western civilization actually wrote a book entitled "How to Read a Book." Short answer: Three times! Of course, that was for worthy books.
Too many today resemble the old saying about the Platte River: "A mile wide and an inch deep, too thin to plow and too think to drink.." Some self-professed experts: Their "knowledge" is too thin to grow anything useful and contains too much dirt to sustain life/thought."
For some of us, we simply must hunt alone in the deep back country; the need for and sense of discovery is just too great.
Similarly, we must read; we must expand both the breath and depth of our understanding; and we must do it in the company of others: "Iron sharpens iron as a friend sharpens a friend."
Every Marine I know who was worth his salt maintained a professional library. Our Corps desperately needs more people who care about its future and thinkers of General Van Ripers caliber. Semper Fi
Report a problem. Subjects: Ebooks & Audiobooks, Education, Education & Training, Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME), Leadership, Marine Corps Reading List, Military Theory & Strategy, Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), Podcasts, Professional Military Education (PME), Professional Reading Lists, Strategy
We did not have a reading list per se, but at IOC our instructors talked about books and encouraged reading as much as possible, when in the fleet, time was spare and the big thing was the AWS correspondence course that the Marines at 8th and I managed. One read what was available and kept FMFM 6-5 close at hand. Thus when reading the interview it was fascinating to learn of the process that General Van Riper used and that very importantly he came to “cast a wide net.” What great words of wisdom, words of advice and words of a cautionary nature, meaning don’t become narrow minded.
It seems that if the reading list is a movable feast, the ingredients ought to change with the situation, like camouflage and harassment ongoing and ever changing and meeting the specifics of the situation. If you’re going into an insurgent environment maybe dust off some of the writing that armies and navies crafted to meet that environment. Have a static brutal conflict with one belligerent having the industrial and military advantage, say I don’t know Russia and Ukraine as example, bone up on the Battle of Stalingrad and Battle of Kursk. Throw in some writings on ancient and modern maneuver warfare. Then openly discuss the stuff you’ve been reading and see if any of your brethren are reading something interesting.
It has been said here so often it ought not bear repeating, but here goes anyway, the senior leadership of the Corps today view themselves as CEO’s of modern with it, hip public companies, they are managers, not leaders, they speak of leadership, but the words ring hollow as the proof is in the action and the result. Further can anyone here imagine General Berger “casting a wide net”? Hell he wouldn’t let anyone speak outside his little circle of ass smoochers and then threatened them with a violation of a non disclosure agreement. CEO’s of public companies use NDA’s to bully their employees and narrow the discussion zone to that which THEY want to tell the financial analysts and their investors. See a pattern?
In this battle to save OUR Marine Corps all ideas are good ideas until proven otherwise, as the British SAS opine, “there is always one more thing” and there is always one more thing. But in a multi pronged assault on the “managers”, currently in charge of the Corps, what a great place to start another front. The reading list. If there is push back then get the bamboo network humming, “hey you young infantry officers at IOC read “Fields of Fire”:before you hit the Fleet.” Winds of change whisper through the system. Hmmm sort of like an insurgency, managers don’t like what they can’t control. Insurgency by its very nature is hard to control. Brigadier General Evans Carlson comes to mind, when thinking of the reading list, make it inclusive, wide ranging and about war fighting and how to war fight better. Don’t like it? Then throw your stars on the desk and go get a job as a CEO with a start up in Silicon Valley and wear a woke suit of polo shirt and blue jeans with Birkenstock sandals. But for the love of Mike get the Hell out of the way, cuz you sure ain’t leading.
Preferably at night. They fly a straight pattern, perpendicular to the wind dropping an ignition every quarter mile.
By morning there is a wall of flames hundreds of miles long gobbling across the terrain.
Sun Tzu’ s final warning. “Foreign adventures for security of state may have be dealt with, but primary duty of an Army is to protect the people and the state from enemy attack.
No civilian agencies know what to do about this sort of attack. The military is the only entity that has the leadership to enact a National,Universal, Stategic , Doctrine, to fireproof the society. Look up the following website: wildfiretoolsmitigation.com
Winning WW II was possible because a nut case character spent years building hundreds of acres of Higgins boats for the Army for Europe’s D Day, and for the Marines in the Pacific.
We simply must do the training and preparation to harness the power of the people so they can save their own homes, towns , and factories.
Same skills and responsibilities are needed for natural and accidental wildfire storms.
General Gray was right on to start off the reading list with Sun Tzu and “The Art Of War”.
With global climate change we face a looming Homeland Security, and military defense threat, that no one is doing anything about.
In Chapter 12, Sun Tzu covers “Attack By Fire”. He lays out that, “It is all well and good to know how to attack by fire, but it is imperative to know what to do if someone attacks you by fire”.
We knew well how to attack Drezdin, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan by fire bombing, but all understood about trying to defend against Japanese balloon fire bombing was to set up a few smokejumper bases.
Today with periods of high drought codes and strong Regional winds coming together more and more often we present to our enemies the perfect opportunity to strike, and create more deviation via a low cost aerial, coordinated fire attack. In an age where we cannot stop a single start ignition the real challenge is what to do about the following scenario.
With our open borders a handfull of enemy agents enter America. Then build a few ultra-light aircraft.
They simply wait for red flag fire conditions to form over an extensive region of our country. They simply launch pr
"The short answer is if I had sent the current Marine reading list to General Gray, he would have immediately relieved me of my duties, told me to submit my retirement papers, pack my trash and go home. The current list is a professional embarrassment to the Marine Corps."
Absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, true.
Yes sir, you are correct. The current reading list is akin to recommending "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" alongside "one Fish two Fish" as 2 of five volumes 'For Any Math Student'. Maybe this is why the USMC thought 31 Amphibs = 38(+) Amphibs?
I came for the free beer and stayed for this interview! Next, I shot over to look at the current CMC reading list to find it was mush. I had to know why. From ALMAR 23/20: "To ensure the Commandant's Professional Reading Program (CPRP) remains relevant, current, and promotes professional discussions amongst all Marines. The Commandant's Professional Reading List (CPRL) has removed the rank distinction and consolidated the list of publications into five categories.
2. The CPRL is arranged into five categories: Commandant's Choice, Profession
of Arms, Innovation, Leadership, and Strategy. Each year, Marines shall read a
minimum of five books from the CPRL." - Almar 023/20
This sort of 'rank egalitarianism' just waters down expectations and makes sub par performance by senior SNCOs/Os more acceptable. Heaven forbid we foster a different professional intellectual focus based on rank (and expected responsibility). Not to mention, we were always free to read from other levels of the reading list (and did). As a habitual grumbler and inveterate reader anyway, I took a while to warm up to the reading list, but I eventually did. I found it to be a good ice breaker and self help resource for Marines of different ranks who had questions and ideas to contribute. (P.S. - Also, the current reading list includes podcasts and that's a dangerous toy to play with. I can see identifying specific episodes that are already published and in the can, but a podcast in general as part of a 'pay attention to' list can become problematic, especially if the podcast is a going business.)
Fortunately, the actual reading lists from past years remain archived and available, including the original '89 reading list: https://grc-usmcu.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=60625792
One of the best things I have read in Compass Points.
I have been an avid, life long reader of military history, theory, strategy, tactics, operations, biographies and auto biographies. Growing up in a home without television I started to read from my grandfather’s extensive library. My focus was school, sports, gardening and reading. Once commissioned I was surprised by the reading habits, or lack thereof by many of my peers. When General Gray pushed the reading program I was an enthusiastic supporter. I believed it was absolutely critical to a professional military force. I was continuously surprised when many peers read the financial page of the WSJ daily but avoided professional reading. I agree that the evolution of the reading program has not been progress. No other human endeavor is like war and books on business management are of limited value to war fighters. A few thoughts are perhaps applicable:
1. 7 hours of physical training and 7 hours of professional reading per week seem to be easily achievable. 12-15 books per year is not too much. 20 books per year for a Field Grade Officer should be an average. I play golf. An 18 hole round is 4 hours plus. I never had time for it during my career. That is not to say it could not have been integrated. I was just unable to fit it in.
2. Unit professional development to discuss books is sadly neglected. Facilitating such discussion in a Socratic method is sadly neglected.
3. Balancing your profession with your personal, family life requires great discipline. Too many Marine Officers are failures in both because of their inability to prioritize.
4. There is an extensive amount of reading in the British, French and German realms. Many of these books exist in English translation but are not as easy to find. These jewels remain largely undiscovered.
5. My professional library is a prize possession even though large parts have wandered off never to return and space constraints have made me cull it. But, I still add 12-15 books a year.
6. I retired 24 years ago and wish I had read much of what I have read in the last 24 years.
7. It is a leader’s obligation to get to know their subordinates. This includes understanding what they have read. A good leader queries his new join on family, assignments, reading, hobbies, schools attended etc. An hour welcome aboard interview and discussion by the Bn Cmdr is not wasted time or undo familiarity. I was, over my entire career surprised by how little seniors knew about their subordinates. They were often just an individual to be assigned tasks. Three years after graduating from the Naval War College with highest distinction I had a RevO recommend I attend TLS. Over an entire 26 career I had maybe three reporting seniors even discuss a book from the Commandant’s reading list with me.
On reflection I must say that the reading list is the foundation. What officers do with it is the true value and in that regard we fall woefully short. Warrior, scholar and athlete repeatedly falls short.
One of my assignments was the personnel officer of Force Troops at Camp Lejeune where I made additional duty assignments. Many of those came from the handicap list at the golf course. A 10 handicap or less guaranteed an assignment…They never complained.
A reading-hunting/recon analogy.
Some people have a deep and compelling need to see, to learn, to know what is around the bend, what is over the next ridge. Yes, stalking game in a known area has its own rewards, but some hunters (learners!) absolutely must leave the known and seek the unknown.
For these explorers of human history, the history of conflict, is vast. Other trail blazers have helped chart the unknown, but they would be the first to affirm that there is much more to explore and learn. In other words, they know enough to know that they don't know all. But, they do know some trails to help others get to the deep back country.
Regrettably, too many today are living in deep mental canyons (AKA as indoctrination!) and they choose not to expend the effort to make the climb to the great charted and uncharted world. They are recognizable by their behaviors: When presented information that doesn't fit their mental canyons, they choose to "double down" --- essentially saying that they already know all that is relevant or will ever be relevant about a topic (FD???). Some of the more egregious types will only accept people that live in their specific and narrow mental canyon; others get "disinvited" "censored" or "cancelled". Do not expect them to ever read a book outside their mental canyons.
Having known General Van Riper for over 45 years, I can attest that he was one always exploring the limits of knowledge, always challenging the thinking and understanding of others. Perhaps, that made others uncomfortable, bruised sensitive egos, but for most of us his actions stimulated understanding and competence. It is past time to permit this Warrior-Scholar to once again be able to teach at the University he founded.
The current Marine Corps Reading List indicates that the Commandant, Assistant Commandant, Commanding General of the Training and Education Command, and President of the Marine Corps University are not well versed in important military literature, or else they are inattentive to one of their fundamental responsibilities. How else to account for the travesty that this so-called professional reading list represents.
Many of today’s senior Marine Corps leaders disparage the “old guys” for being out of touch and behind the times. The Wolf longs for the Corps they led. It had the capability and capacity to respond to crises around the globe and was filled with general officers who were known to read and study. It appears to me those in the top billets today are living off the reputations the so-called “old guys” earned. They give no evidence that they are aware let alone knowledgeable of essential professional literature.
That said, for the true learners (hunters), satellite photos, while useful, only provide a superficial layer of understanding ... analogous to the current trends of quickly hitting Wikipedia to "fake" deep knowledge of a topic. True understanding comes from immersion in the environment, living in it, not treating it as "flyover country."
Similarly, it is only by reading serious books seriously and mixing that reading with thoughtful experience that one is able to develop an understanding of an area. Mortimer J. Adler, editor of the Britannica and a lifelong advocate for reading and understanding the canon of Western civilization actually wrote a book entitled "How to Read a Book." Short answer: Three times! Of course, that was for worthy books.
Too many today resemble the old saying about the Platte River: "A mile wide and an inch deep, too thin to plow and too think to drink.." Some self-professed experts: Their "knowledge" is too thin to grow anything useful and contains too much dirt to sustain life/thought."
For some of us, we simply must hunt alone in the deep back country; the need for and sense of discovery is just too great.
Similarly, we must read; we must expand both the breath and depth of our understanding; and we must do it in the company of others: "Iron sharpens iron as a friend sharpens a friend."
Every Marine I know who was worth his salt maintained a professional library. Our Corps desperately needs more people who care about its future and thinkers of General Van Ripers caliber. Semper Fi
Here it is ck it out…..ALMAR 018/23
UPDATE TO THE COMMANDANT'S PROFESSIONAL READING LIST FOR FISCAL YEAR 24
Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 3:13 PM URL: https://grc-usmcu.libguides.com/usmc-reading-list-fy24 Print Page
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Report a problem. Subjects: Ebooks & Audiobooks, Education, Education & Training, Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME), Leadership, Marine Corps Reading List, Military Theory & Strategy, Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), Podcasts, Professional Military Education (PME), Professional Reading Lists, Strategy
Tags: almar 018-23, almar 018/23, CMC reading list, foundational, innovation, leadership, PME books, profession of arms, reading list, strategy, USMC reading list
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We did not have a reading list per se, but at IOC our instructors talked about books and encouraged reading as much as possible, when in the fleet, time was spare and the big thing was the AWS correspondence course that the Marines at 8th and I managed. One read what was available and kept FMFM 6-5 close at hand. Thus when reading the interview it was fascinating to learn of the process that General Van Riper used and that very importantly he came to “cast a wide net.” What great words of wisdom, words of advice and words of a cautionary nature, meaning don’t become narrow minded.
It seems that if the reading list is a movable feast, the ingredients ought to change with the situation, like camouflage and harassment ongoing and ever changing and meeting the specifics of the situation. If you’re going into an insurgent environment maybe dust off some of the writing that armies and navies crafted to meet that environment. Have a static brutal conflict with one belligerent having the industrial and military advantage, say I don’t know Russia and Ukraine as example, bone up on the Battle of Stalingrad and Battle of Kursk. Throw in some writings on ancient and modern maneuver warfare. Then openly discuss the stuff you’ve been reading and see if any of your brethren are reading something interesting.
It has been said here so often it ought not bear repeating, but here goes anyway, the senior leadership of the Corps today view themselves as CEO’s of modern with it, hip public companies, they are managers, not leaders, they speak of leadership, but the words ring hollow as the proof is in the action and the result. Further can anyone here imagine General Berger “casting a wide net”? Hell he wouldn’t let anyone speak outside his little circle of ass smoochers and then threatened them with a violation of a non disclosure agreement. CEO’s of public companies use NDA’s to bully their employees and narrow the discussion zone to that which THEY want to tell the financial analysts and their investors. See a pattern?
In this battle to save OUR Marine Corps all ideas are good ideas until proven otherwise, as the British SAS opine, “there is always one more thing” and there is always one more thing. But in a multi pronged assault on the “managers”, currently in charge of the Corps, what a great place to start another front. The reading list. If there is push back then get the bamboo network humming, “hey you young infantry officers at IOC read “Fields of Fire”:before you hit the Fleet.” Winds of change whisper through the system. Hmmm sort of like an insurgency, managers don’t like what they can’t control. Insurgency by its very nature is hard to control. Brigadier General Evans Carlson comes to mind, when thinking of the reading list, make it inclusive, wide ranging and about war fighting and how to war fight better. Don’t like it? Then throw your stars on the desk and go get a job as a CEO with a start up in Silicon Valley and wear a woke suit of polo shirt and blue jeans with Birkenstock sandals. But for the love of Mike get the Hell out of the way, cuz you sure ain’t leading.
Continued troop
Preferably at night. They fly a straight pattern, perpendicular to the wind dropping an ignition every quarter mile.
By morning there is a wall of flames hundreds of miles long gobbling across the terrain.
Sun Tzu’ s final warning. “Foreign adventures for security of state may have be dealt with, but primary duty of an Army is to protect the people and the state from enemy attack.
No civilian agencies know what to do about this sort of attack. The military is the only entity that has the leadership to enact a National,Universal, Stategic , Doctrine, to fireproof the society. Look up the following website: wildfiretoolsmitigation.com
Winning WW II was possible because a nut case character spent years building hundreds of acres of Higgins boats for the Army for Europe’s D Day, and for the Marines in the Pacific.
We simply must do the training and preparation to harness the power of the people so they can save their own homes, towns , and factories.
Same skills and responsibilities are needed for natural and accidental wildfire storms.
Troop.dragonslayers@yahoo. Com
General Gray was right on to start off the reading list with Sun Tzu and “The Art Of War”.
With global climate change we face a looming Homeland Security, and military defense threat, that no one is doing anything about.
In Chapter 12, Sun Tzu covers “Attack By Fire”. He lays out that, “It is all well and good to know how to attack by fire, but it is imperative to know what to do if someone attacks you by fire”.
We knew well how to attack Drezdin, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan by fire bombing, but all understood about trying to defend against Japanese balloon fire bombing was to set up a few smokejumper bases.
Today with periods of high drought codes and strong Regional winds coming together more and more often we present to our enemies the perfect opportunity to strike, and create more deviation via a low cost aerial, coordinated fire attack. In an age where we cannot stop a single start ignition the real challenge is what to do about the following scenario.
With our open borders a handfull of enemy agents enter America. Then build a few ultra-light aircraft.
They simply wait for red flag fire conditions to form over an extensive region of our country. They simply launch pr