Books to Read?

LineInTheSand said:
I dislike suggested reading lists from leadership and flag officers.... It's the same thing every time.....
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Sounds like that is spoken from some experience and some years of service. And as 24 years and counting myself - I don’t disagree that they get repetitive. But this question was asked from the perspective of entering the service - not from a few years down the road. From that perspective - Starting from zero base - they offer as Good a place to start as any.
 
I will second LITS's suggestion of Rescue Warriors. The section on the Academy is fairly short. However, the overall coverage of the missions of the Coast Guard, as well as its problems and strengths, is really useful if you are looking at this service for part or all of your career.
 
There are some older CGA books, but I’d say wait until you have some CGA time under your belt. You’ll have ideas of what CGA will be. In some ways it will exceed your expectations and in some ways it will fall far short. The cleaner your slate of expectations, the smoother that roller coaster ride.

There are a pretty good number of CG books, but most will come down to big bad weather, people in trouble and rescuing those people. Some live. Some die.

My favorite books show the good and the bad, and remind you these are imperfect organizations with humans at the wheel.
 
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Watching The Guardian is certaintly a good idea for an incoming SWAB! The CGAS cadre in charge of my class cracked quite a few jokes from the movie and we even got to see it at the end for morale!
 
Hurricane12 said:
"The Caine Mutiny" is a must read for any aspiring Naval Officer (or Officer from any branch, really). The movie is okay, but nowhere near on the level of the book. I've read it a few times: as a Midshipman, as a 2ndLt, and as a Captain, and have a different perspective every time. It's long, but an easy and entertaining read. Also, every person in the book is 100% a person you will meet in the military.

"Finest Hours" (movie) is okay, the book is pretty good. I'll second "The Perfect Storm" (again, the book is better).

For Navy movies, "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" is the quintessential Naval Aviation movie. "Top Gun" is goofy as anything, but the aerial scenes are excellent.
I'll second every book nomination from NTWLF1.
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Thank you so much! This was very helpful!
 
NAVYCAPT93 said:
Navy Reading Lists are varied. You can try to take a look at the recommended Professional Reading lists from each service. They all have one. They have a “cannon” that forms the basics for strategy - probably WAY too dry and detailed for a potential Midshipman or Cadet. But these at least contain a frame of reference. They also have recommended fiction and history books that are great.
http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/CNO-ReadingProgram/azlist.html

For great Navy fiction - I recommend nearly anything by David Poyer- a 1971 USNA grad and Navy captain. He also has a great book - which while it is a fiction novel and exaggeration- provides some ideas about life at the Academy - “The Return Of Philo T. McGiffin”. It’s a very entertaining read.
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Thanks so much I will be sure to check the lists!
 
Objee said:
Markham Starr did a great "photographic documentary" book on CGA/Swab Summer a few years ago. I know it's available in our Exchange, but can probably be found online as well.
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I will look into this, Thank you!
 
Come on LITS, I’m sure you could power through “Monsoon”....it’s on all the reading lists...:)
 
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