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A Civilian's Guide to the U.S. Military: A comprehensive reference to the customs, language and structure of the Armed Forces | 
 enlarge | Authors: Barbara Schading, Richard Schading
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $1.00
You Save: $15.99 (94%)
New (32) Used (14) Collectible (2) from $0.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 66498
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 158297408X
Dewey Decimal Number: 355.00973
EAN: 9781582974088
ASIN: 158297408X
Publication Date: December 22, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Book Description
Attention! Learn more about your military now! Does a corporal have to salute a lieutenant or is it the other way around? What are forward-deployed units? Is an "armored cow" a type of tank or something soldiers eat? Are Polaris missiles dropped from the air or launched from a submarine? If someone calls you a "Cat 4" should you be honored or offended? Do you feel lost when it comes to all things military? Sure, you hear things on the news and maybe you know someone who is in the military, but you probably have a hard time fully grasping the acronyms, equipment, and protocol they discuss. That's where A Civilian's Guide to the U.S. Military can help. Author Barbara Schading decodes all things military for you. She discusses each branch--Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and the Coast Guard--in simple terms you can understand. You'll get the background information, an easy-to-read chart showing rank and insignia, and an explanation of the organization of each branch. In addition, the book has extensive glossaries that cover terms, acronyms, slang, and equipment. You'll find an entire chapter that covers special operations forces like the Green Berets, Force Recons, Army Rangers, and more. You'll learn about their specific training, missions, and history. The book also covers other important aspects of the military like: flag and saluting etiquette
military funerals
the Tombs of the Unknown
the American Legion, USO, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other groups
military law
military academies
medals and decorations
official military music
an explanation of the Geneva Convention
and a list of resources to help you find more information So the next time you read the paper or talk with a new recruit, you don't have to feel lost. Become a knowledgeable civilian with the help of A Civilian's Guide to the U.S. Military.
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| Customer Reviews:
Excellent resource April 3, 2008
This book is an excellent resource for folks who want to learn more about the military and its history, culture, customs, and norms. I work with the military and still learned a great deal from this book.
 Needs an editor March 1, 2008
There are a lot of typographical and factual errors in this book which are distracting. The author also strayed into the subjective at times. There was no mention of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which I thought was odd. I thought the book did a good job of explaining rank and breaking down the pecking order of each branch. It has a good glossary of terms; however, the author included several slang terms that some readers may find offensive. Overall if you don't know anything about the military and would like to become familiar with the basics, you can probably overlook the shortcomings and get some useful information out of it.
Could have been more in depth January 7, 2008
This book was bitter sweet. Some sections were great, while others verged on the pointless. Seems that great detail was given in certain areas (which is good); however, seems to just skim over some important sections. Also, in some cases, the author was just simply wrong in some facts.
Bottom line: an OK book for $10.00. If you know nothing of the military, this may be of some help. If you are already familiar, then don't bother.
 A fascinating read and a wonderful resource! February 22, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is a great resource for anyone interested in the military. It is carefully organized and detailed but also very concise and easily accessibly for us non-military types. It's a great read and I'll keep it on my shelf for a useful reference, too!
A Close Look at our Military January 21, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
A CIVILIAN'S GUIDE TO THE U.S. MILITARY is a misleading title. This outstanding book not only serves as a detailed reference for civilians seeking information about the armed services, but is of equal value to active duty military personnel, as well as those on the retired rolls who may have fallen out of touch with the ever changing force structure. In concise, easy to read prose, Dr. Schading addresses all aspects of the military establishment, from organization, mission and training to the everydays details of military life. The information is voluminous, yet never boring in the way it is presented. The reader will come away with a clear picture of the five major services, and a fresh insight into the complex world of Special Operations Forces.
For any writer of fiction, A CIVILIAN'S GUIDE TO THE U.S. MILITARY is a "must have" reference book. It could also prove a valuable academic resource for the military academies and college campus ROTC programs. One might even suggest that media newscasters avail themselves of the section on proper forms of address, for they are constantly getting this wrong.
For anyone contemplating a military career, or simply curious about the armed services, this book will be a comprehensive guide.
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