My top five books of 2023 My reading slowed this year as I finished my dissertation and started my job as a historian with the army. I hope to pick it up in 2024, but I only got through 30 books this year. At any rate, these were my favorite books that I read in…
All posts in December 2023
What Does “Airborne” Even Mean?
Its not just for parachute troops Much has been made of the recent decision to re-activate the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska. However, one central question remains — what to do with the Stryker brigade at Fort Wainwright. Because the 20-ton wheeled vehicles are less than ideal in an arctic operating environment, that brigade will likely revert…
How I use OneNote for my Dissertation
I tested and tried a few note-taking applications before settling on OneNote. Previous attempts included Scrivener (which I still use, more on that later), Apple’s Notes (which I also use for more regular day-to-day notes), and Evernote (to get full functionality required paying for it, something I was not willing to do). I was inspired…
Archive Tips and Tricks
How to Navigate the National Archives Without Losing Your Sanity Archival work can be incredibly daunting. The sheer volume of documents, the wild filing system, and incomplete or nonexistent finding aids all add up to a decidedly overwhelming experience — especially for the first-timer. However, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way.…
It’s Time to Ditch Huntington
Civ-Mil Relations for the Modern Age Samuel Huntington’s 1957 classic The Soldier and the State has guided military thought on civil-military relations for over half a century. Controversial in its time, his ideas continue to shape officers today. Is it any wonder the US military has been unsuccessful in long-term counterinsurgencies since? All war is political; at its simplest, wars are organized…
From Airborne Adventures to Historical Insights: A Historian’s Journey
Greetings, fellow history nerds! I’m Rob, and I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with you through the annals of the U.S. Army’s past. My fascination with military history was kindled during my time in airborne units, where every jump and mission became a chapter in the unfolding story of our nation’s defense. Delving into…