The true, daily, blow-by-blow journal entries of the author as he went through Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School, concluding with his being called to active duty for the first time on September 11th, 2001.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars 10 more weeks of shining brass, then this place can kiss my
I read Monroe’s book trying to trigger memories of my own boot camp days at Fort Polk in the 70’s. It’s amazing he found the time to write a journal during basic training. Most of the entries are short. One might think, Good Lord, he’s a moron, but consider it was written standing up, tired, and scribbled in a hurry. If you’ve been through basic, you know. Someone who hasn’t been through the green machine might think less of this writer. I relived my experience reading his cryptic passages. He captures the up and down emotions, the regret, the pride, and the struggles of boot camp. Although not as eloquent as Jerry Morton’s book, it’s an equally honest portrayal of boot camp in the Army.
5 Stars US Army Basic Training hasn’t changed in 50 years
Lt Mann captures what it is like to go through basic combat training and OCS. He lays out the good and bad of the US Army training methods for making warriors. Reminds me of the training when I went through in the 70’s. He accurately captures the smell, feel, and fatigue of learning to operate in a new environment with new stress etc. He captures the essence of the training base Army. A fine read for someone who has gone through and wants to relive the experience- or for a prospective soldier wanting to know what to expect! I can’t recommend this book highly enough and look forward to his next work. It is good to have a real patriot in the entertainment field. And thanks to his family for suppoort of this soldier.
4 Stars To Benning and back to tell all
Monroe Mann’s “To Benning and Back: The Making of a Citizen Soldier” is an honest portrait of the United States Army’s Basic Training at Fort Benning and the New York Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School at Camp Smith. Military literary sketches are often crowded with heroic jargon and feats of super hero performances, whereas, LT Mann’s story tells of the heartache and uncertainty a soldier feels while undergoing some of the toughest training in the military. He holds nothing back. Not even the heroic jargon and super hero feats. This is Monroe’s honest story of his ups and downs, his highs and lows, his good decisions and his bad. “To Benning and Back…” should be required reading for anyone considering the Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School.
Hooah,
Rudy
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