Leadership and Professional Development: Suggested Reading List

[Marine0311]

The purpose of this thread is for those of the community to post titles of books that others should read concerning leadership and its related subjects such as professional development.

The intent is for all to increase ones respective breath and depth of knowledge. The books listed cover all ranks, both officer and enlisted. The books listed can cover different divisions such as (but not limited to) non-fiction, fiction or be biographical.

Specific intent for newbies: Read everything on this list. It will help you prepare for your specific path. It will also develop and increase your breath and depth of knowledge while you are in "The Green Machine".



All vetted members are welcome to add to the list.



If you have questions or comments PM a member of the staff.

 

[Marine0311]

The (U.S Marine Corps) Commandants' Required Reading for all Marines:

"A MESSAGE TO GARCIA" BY E HUBBARD
"LEADING MARINES (MCWP 6-11)" BY THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
"THE WARRIOR ETHOS" BY S PRESSFIELD
"WARFIGHTING (MCDP 1)" BY THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
​

ENTRY LEVEL ENLISTED: RECRUIT/POOLEE
"BATTLE CRY" BY L URIS
"CORPS VALUES" BY Z MILLER
"MAKING THE CORPS" BY T RICKS
"THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE" BY S CRANE

 

[Marine0311]

The (U.S Marine Corps) Commandants' Required Reading for Enlisted Marines: http://guides.grc.usmcu.edu/content.php?pid=408059&sid=3340410

• Entry Level: Recruit - Poolee
  Reading list books for Marine Corps recruits and poolees.
• Primary Level: E1 - E4
  Reading list books for the ranks of Private, Private First Class, Lance Corporal and Corporal.
• Career Level: E5 - E6
  Reading list books for the ranks of Sergeant and Staff Sergeant.
• Intermediate Level: E7 - E8
  Reading list books for the ranks of Gunnery Sergeant, Master Sergeant, and First Sergeant.
• Senior Level: E9
  Reading list books for the ranks of Master Gunnery Sergeant and Sergeant Major.

 

[Marine0311]

The (U.S Marine Corps) Commandants' Required Reading for Officers: http://guides.grc.usmcu.edu/content.php?pid=408059&sid=3340393

• Entry Level: Candidate - Midshipman
  Reading list books for the officer candidates and midshipmen.
• Primary Level: WO1 - O1 - O2
  Reading list books for the ranks of Warrant Officer, Second Lieutenant and First Lieutenant.
• Career Level: CWO2 - CWO3 - O3
  Reading list books for the ranks of Chief Warrant Officer 2, Chief Warrant Officer 3 and Captain.
• Intermediate Level: CWO4 - CWO5 - O4 - O5
  Reading list books for the ranks of Chief Warrant Officer 4, Chief Warrant Officer 5, Major and Lieutenant Colonel.
• Senior Level: O6 - O7 - O8 - O9 - O10
  Reading list books for the ranks of Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General and General.

 

[Marine0311]

The (U.S Marine Corps) Commandants' Required Reading: Professional Categories:

• Aviation Category
• Counterinsurgency Category
• Leadership Category
• Logistics Category
• Regional & Cultural Studies Category
• Roots of Maneuver Warfare Category
• Strategic Thinking Category
• Wounded Warrior Category

 

[Marine0311]

U.S Army Center of Military History Recommended Professional Reading List: http://www.history.army.mil/reading.html

• SUBLIST 1 (Cadets, Soldiers, Junior NCOs)

• SUBLIST 2 (Company Grade NCOs, WO1-CW 3, and Company Grade Officers)

• SUBLIST 3 (Senior NCOs, CW4-CW5, Field Grade Officers)

• SUBLIST 4 (Senior Leaders above Brigade Level)

 

[Marine0311]

U.S Army Chief of Staff Reading List: (PDF)

http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/105/105-1-1/CMH_Pub_105-5-1_2013.pdf

 

[Marine0311]

U.S Naval Institute: http://www.usni.org/naval-institute-press/reading-lists


Navy Professional Reading Program
The following Naval Institute Press books appear in the Navy Professional Reading Program:

• Aircraft Carriers at War
• The Great Wall at Sea
• In the Shadow of Greatness
• Navigating the Seven Seas
• Red Star Over the Pacific
• A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy
• The Sand Pebbles
• Seal of Honor
• Shield and Sword
• To the Shores of Tripoli

Marine Corps Professional Reading Program
The following Naval Institute Press books appear in the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program:

• The Bridge at Dong Ha
• Fields of Fire
• First to Fight
• Tip of the Spear
• Utmost Savagery

Coast Guard Reading List
The following Naval Institute Press book was selected as the 2003 Commandant's Choice:

• Character in Action

Blue & Gold Professional Library

• The Bluejacket's Manual
• Career Compass
• The Chief Petty Officer's Guide
• Command at Sea
• Dictionary of Modern Strategy and Tactics
• Dictionary of Naval Abbreviations
• Dictionary of Naval Terms
• Division Officer's Guide
• Dutton's Nautical Navigation
• Farwell's Rules of the Nautical Road
• Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions
• The Naval Institute Almanac of the U.S. Navy
• The Naval Institute Guide to Naval Writing
• The Naval Officer's Guide
• Naval Shiphandler's Guide
• NavCivGuide
• Newly Commissioned Naval Officer's Guide
• Operations Officer's Guide
• Principles of Naval Engineering
• Principles of Naval Weapon Systems
• The Professional Naval Officer
• A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy
• Saltwater Leadership
• Watch Officer's Guide

Scarlet & Gold Professional Library

• Command Attention
• Handbook for Marine NCOs
• Marine Officer's Guide
• On the Corps

 

[Marine0311]

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Reading List: The Chairman's Reading List:

http://www.jcs.mil/content/files/2012-04/041312155609_CJCS_Reading_List_2012.pdf

 

[Marine0311]

U.S Coast Guard Leadership and Professional Development Reading List:

http://www.uscg.mil/leadership/resources/readinglist.asp

Leadership Section: http://www.uscg.mil/leadership/resources/readinglist _leadership.asp

Contemporary Issues Section: http://www.uscg.mil/leadership/resources/readinglist _issues.asp

 

[Marine0311]

Chief of Staff U.S Air Force Reading List:

Officers: http://www.militaryreadinglist.com/CSAF/csaf_officer_list.htm

Enlisted: http://www.militaryreadinglist.com/CSAF/csaf_enlisted_list.htm

 

[Marine0311]

By Dick Couch

Chosen Solider - The Making of a Special Forces Warrior.

The Warrior Elite - The Forging of SEAL Class 228.

The Finishing School - Earning the Navy SEAL Trident.

Sua Sponte: The Making of a Modern American Ranger.

Down Range: Navy SEALS and the War on Terrorism.

 

[Isshin2]

One book that rarely gets a mention but IMO demonstrates the meaning of perseverance and the warrior's mindset:

Bataan Death March: A Survivor's Account by William E. Dyess

 

[Marine0311]

Leading With Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton

In this powerful and practical book, Lee Ellis, a former Air Force pilot, candidly talks about his five and a half years of captivity and the fourteen key leadership principles behind this amazing story. As a successful executive coach and corporate consultant, he helps leaders of Fortune 500 companies, healthcare executives, small business owners, and entrepreneurs utilize these same pressure-tested principles to increase their personal and organizational success

 

[Marine0311]

The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander

As a commander of Delta Force-the most elite counter-terrorist organization in the world-Pete Blaber took part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time. Now he takes his intimate knowledge of warfare-and the heart, mind, and spirit it takes to win-and moves his focus from the combat zone to civilian life.

As the smoke clears from exciting stories about never before-revealed top-secret missions that were executed all over the globe, readers will emerge wiser, more capable, and more ready for life's personal victories than they ever thought possible.

 

[dmcgill]

Best two books I've ever read on mental toughness and management.

Your Life by Scot Spooner

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Life-Scot-D-Spooner-ebook/dp/B007ADMJKO/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403137704&sr=1-2&keywords=your life

With Winning in Mind by Lanny Basham

http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Mind-3rd-Ed-ebook/dp/B004XD1M20/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403137821&sr=1-1&keywords=with winning in mind

I also learned a lot about leadership from Pete Blaber's book The Mission, The Men, and Me.

 

[Gunz]

Anything by John Keegan, probably the most brilliant military historian/analyst/writer of our time, senior lecturer at RMA Sandhurst. His A History of Warfare was a profound work of "multiple intellectual dimensions."

 

[TheTrewthHurts]

U.S. Army SOCPAC Recommended Reading List (very long)

SOCPAC Recommended Reading List

 

[CDG]

2015 CSAF Reading List: http://static.dma.mil/usaf/csafreadinglist/01_books.html

 

[Viper1]

Anything by John Keegan, probably the most brilliant military historian/analyst/writer of our time, senior lecturer at RMA Sandhurst. His A History of Warfare was a profound work of "multiple intellectual dimensions."

His book Mask of Command was excellent as well.