ARMY leaders want today's soldiers to continue honing their skills and learning more about the Army's heritage. And they've provided a roadmap to help with the process.
The voluntary, self-paced program -- a recommended professional reading list -- was released in June.
"This is a professional reading list for all leaders," said GEN Eric K. Shinseki, Army chief of staff, describing the list. "We can never spend too much time thinking about our profession. There is no better way to develop the sure knowledge and confidence required of America's most demanding occupation than a disciplined, focused commitment to a personal course of reading and study."
The list contains the titles of 40 books divided evenly among four hierarchical and progressive smaller lists.
Which list soldiers should start with depends on where they are in their careers in terms of experience, education and the level of responsibility they currently hold. For example, a cadet or sergeant would start with the first list, while a division commander or sergeant major would begin with the fourth list.
The various titles also complement each other and the required reading found in the formal study of the officer and enlisted schools, said BG John S. Brown, commander of the U.S. Army Center of Military History.
While the CMH is the program's executive agent, Brown said the list truly was Shinseki's.
"Shortly after GEN Shinseki became chief of staff, he identified the Army's need for a systematic, self-development professional reading list," Brown said. "We considered his guidance in developing the list and, being the historians we are, we brought back a list that was about 90 percent military history. He then had us include other subjects, so the list now has a more complete focus."
Brown said the list was created to encourage habits of reading and reflection; sustain intellectual growth; promote professional self-development; and deepen soldiers' appreciation of their military heritage.
"Good leaders are always curious about how others have solved similar problems they face -- this list helps with that," Brown said. -- Army News Service