Charles E. Heller

The post-Cold War, post-unipolar world is a new and uncertain landscape, and the U.S. Army is grappling with the challenges of downsizing while remaining a formidable force. This 1992 report investigates the unique world of the Israel Defense Force (IDF), an army that has consistently mobilized rapidly and won its wars against overwhelming odds. The IDF, a citizen army with a massive reserve component, offers valuable insights for restructuring the U.S. Army and maximizing its effectiveness in a time of shrinking budgets and manpower. This document explores the IDF's integrated force structure, its innovative approach to training and equipping, and its emphasis on peacetime missions that contribute to national development. The report provides an in-depth examination of the IDF's organizational structure, focusing on its active and reserve components, its officer corps, and its unique role in Israeli society. It delves into the IDF's reliance on equipment modernization through modification, highlighting its cost-saving practices and its remarkable ability to adapt and enhance existing weapons systems. This report is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of the U.S. Army. Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, or simply a concerned citizen, this document provides a compelling case study of a successful model for a modern, adaptable, and cost-effective military force. The report offers valuable lessons for the U.S. Army as it navigates the complexities of the 21st century security environment, and it provides a unique perspective on the potential for innovation and efficiency in the face of resource constraints.

George Luther Stearns became John Brown's single most important financial backer. He personally owned the 200 Sharps rifles Brown brought to Harper's Ferry. Massachusetts Governor John Andrew asked Stearns to recruit the first northern state African-American regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, recently made famous by the Hollywood movie Glory. Stearns was made a major and made Assistant Adjutant General for the Recruitment of Colored Troops. He recruited over 13,000 African-Americans, established schools for their children, and found work for their families. After Emancipation, he worked tirelessly for African-American civil rights. Friends and associates included the Emersons and the Alcotts, Thoreau, Lydia Maria Child, Charles Sumner, Andrew Johnson, and Frederick Douglass.

This volume, a collection of eleven original essays by many of the foremost U.S. military historians, focuses on the transition of the Army from parade ground to battleground in each of nine wars the United States has fought. Through careful analysis of organization, training, and tactical doctrine, each essay seeks to explain the strengths and weaknesses evidenced by the outcome of the first significant engagement or campaign of the war. The concluding essay sets out to synthesize the findings and to discover whether or not American first battles manifest a characteristic rhythm. America's First Battles provides a novel and intellectually challenging view of how America has prepared for war and how operations and tactics have changed over time. The thrust of the book--the emphasis on operational history--is at the forefront of scholarly activity in military history.