Barbara Schading - A Civilians Guide to the U.S. Military: A comprehensive reference to the customs, language and structure of the Armed Forces

A CIVILIANS

GUIDE TO THE

U.S. MILITARY

A Comprehensive Reference to the Customs, Language,
& Structure of the Armed Forces

BARBARA SCHADING, PH.D.

with Richard Schading, U.S. Marine Corps
& Major Virginia Slayton, U.S. Army, (RET)

writersdigest.com
Cincinnati, Ohio

The Civilians Guide to the U.S. Military 2007 by Barbara Schading Ph.D. Manufactured in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Writers Digest Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Schading, Barbara.

The civilians guide to the U.S. military / A comprehensive reference to the customs, language, and structure of the Armed Forces / by Barbara Schading, Ph.D. With Richard Schading, former Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps And Virginia R. Slayton, Major, U.S. Army (RET). -- 1st edition.

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1-58297-408-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN-13: 978-1-58297-774-4 (EPUB)

ISBN-10: 1-58297-408-X (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. United States--Armed Forces--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Schading, Richard. II. Slayton,Virginia R. III. Title.

UA23.S298 2007

355.00973--dc22

2006025881

Edited by Michelle Ehrhard

Designed by Claudean Wheeler

Production coordinated by Mark Griffin

AUTHORS NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The idea for this book came about as I sought useful information about the American military, but found it wasnt available in a simplified, cohesive source. Information was spotty and varied from tomes of dry statistics to in-depth descriptions of equipment to fictionalized war stories difficult to relate to. Vast quantities of details ever-present on the Internet and elsewhere often failed to cut to the nitty-gritty and present the basic facts cleanly and clearly. Incomprehensible acronyms and Operation-This-or-That left me feeling out of touch with what was going on with our military, and more importantly, why it was going on.

I believe that engaging in an academic discussion of, for example, whether the military should participate in a particular operation or another is meaningless unless one has a basic understanding of the militarys function, its modes of operations, and its capabilities, at the very least. To the outsider, our military might seem to be merely flexing its muscles. Documentaries and war movies are often overdramatized with confusing terminology, equipment, and situations that are beyond the average civilians experience. Even nightly newscasts from war zones have a surreal quality; how can these strange people in bizarre costumes be fighting for our freedom? Even with family members in or retired from the military, a full understanding of the total package is hard to obtain for many people. Likewise, while most military personnel are highly knowledgeable about their branch of service and are fiercely loyal to it, they often have a limited knowledge of the other branches. Family members of a new recruit would benefit greatly from a clear, concise explanation of what each branch does, what it represents, and what the fledgling member can expect to gain from his or her service commitments.

As a reader and writer, odd details of military life have always intrigued me. Mysterious things like the distinction between special forces and Special Forces, and why the Navy SEALs never capitalize that last letter are puzzling. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to become knowledgeable about an important component of todays world, both within our country and outside of it.

Along the way, Ive gained an immense appreciation for our men and women in the armed forces, and for their sacrifices, sometimes the supreme sacrifice, for our nation. All branches of the service have played an important role in our history and continue to be valuable today. All the components work together for the same purpose, like a massive body of water flowing in the same direction, and together, their strength is unsurpassed.

I truly believe that a good understanding of the subjects covered here is important for todays citizens of the world. Not only is it interesting, but we need to know the purpose of our military and how it evolved if we are to understand what it is doing around the world and at home. We must understand fundamentals like the difference between ranks to comprehend significant current events in which various levels of the military play a part. Understanding the significance of the Medal of Honor or why the flag is such a revered part of our nations tradition are life lessons we all should learn. Comprehending the essence of the Missing Man Formation or learning the lyrics to the Marines Hymn will bring understanding to why viewers weep or get goose bumps when they encounter these evocative symbols. We must never forget the rationale for the Geneva Convention if we are to evaluate our leaders and judge their actions in these arenas with good conscience and our own integrity.

The meanings of military traditions are often difficult for civilians to grasp. Customs may appear complex yet are sometimes painfully simple; many represent visceral and overpowering images that are fundamental to each branch. It is crucial to realize that nearly all military traditions stem from one simple concept: The men and women of the American military are willing to lay down their lives so that this nation can live in peace and freedom. There is nothing more honorable than that.

I wish to express my deep gratitude to each branch of our nations military: the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the Coast Guard, and all of the associated Reserves and National Guards for the assistance they provided in producing this book.

Military contacts providing assistance at varying levels included: former Sergeant Richard L. Schading, U.S. Marine Corps; Major Virginia R. Slayton, U.S. Army (RET); former Captain Herbert S. Harvis, U.S. Army; Colonel Bob Boswell, U.S. Air Force (RET); First Sgt. Donna Ferguson, U.S. Air Force, (RET); Chief Petty Officer Mike Setzer, U.S. Navy (RET); MKC Chief Bromley Ball, U.S. Coast Guard; MK1 Mark Carstens, U.S. Coast Guard; Steve Blando, Deputy Chief, Community Relations Branch, U.S. Coast Guard; Kelly A. Sherman, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army-Pentagon; Dr. Betty D. Maxfield, Chief, Army Demographics Office, Office of the Deputy Chief of Stafff or Personnel, U.S. Army; Captain Maureen Schumann, Air Force Branding and Trademark Licensing, U.S. Air Force; Jay Godwin, Heraldry Archivist, Air Force Historical Research Agency, U.S. Air Force; Kenneth E. Warren, Patrick AFB, U.S. Air Force; Dr. Buddy Coard, Defense Equal Opportunity Management, U.S. Army.