Marine Reading List

My two sons are Marines and in the past few years I've learned a lot about the Marine Corps and their values. One value is leadership and their leadership training. How do you learn be become a leader? One is to have good leaders above you, another way to learn about great military leaders.

In order for a United States Marine to move into leadership positions they must first prove themselves both physically and mentally.

Independent education is a very important part of the Marine Corp structure and both enlisted and officers can not only increase their cutting scores to achieve promotion, but they can also earn college credits during service. Many Marines leave the Corp with an Associates degree and are well on their way to the Bachelors on the GI Bill.

The books listed below are just a few of the recommended books on the list.

The struggle for a parent of a Marine recruit is what to get them for Christmas and birthdays their last year. Normally they are seniors in high school and the common theme is gifts for college. But this doesn't work for those deciding to join the Marines and go to boot camp. They can't use their phones, or any electronics.

So I asked his Marine recruiters what I should get me son for Christmas and his suggestion was the following books. The more a Marine is educated the more valuable he is to the Corps. Marines have a higher standard than the other branches of the military, their enlistment ASFAB scores requirements are higher and most promotions are not just based on time and grade, but on merit and effort.

Photo credit:a photo of my son getting fitted with his dress blues >

Updated January 2013

According to the January 14th edition of the Marine Times, Commandant Gen. Jim Amos updated the official reading list and there has been some changes. The Commandants Choice is now required reading for all levels of Marines.

Each year, every Marine is required to read three books on their specific rank list. These books are discussed during professional military education sessions at all Marine bases and are recorded on the Marines annual fitness report.

Books can be purchased online, or borrowed at the base library. For a more complete list visit the Marine Corps at the Marine Corps Times website.

Many Marine recruiters recommend their potential recruits and poolies (sworn in recruits in the "pool" waiting to ship to boot camp) read the following books to learn more about the Marine Corp, understand what is ahead in boot camp, and become motivated for the journey ahead. These books make great birthday or Christmas gifts for your young son or daughter considering a career or a brief stint in the Marines.

This list of books is required for all Marines regardless of rank and time of service. You may notice the books come from various time periods in history from the Civil War to even The Roman and Greek time periods. This is because the honor, code, and end goal of a warrior has not changed over time.

We learn from history, as history repeats itself. Human nature has not changed over thousands of years. War is a reality, men fight, men die, men need to make decisions that will affect their troops, their friends, and their fellow soldiers and the rest of their life.

Below are just a view books on the list. There is probably not one man more highly respected and revered in the Marine Corps than Chesty Puller. He is the most decorated Marine in all history and the recipient of five Navy Crosses, the Distinguised Servce Medal, the Purple Heart and many other medals during his service. Chesty and fought during World War II and Korea.

If your son or daughter has announced they want to join the Marine Corps I feel for you. It's not just an education and a journey for them but a journey as a family. You will want to learn as much about the Marine Corps, the traditions, and boot camp as a way of mentally preparing yourself for military life.

Before a young man or woman leaves for boot camp they normally go through a phase called the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) this is an important phase. This is after they commit and sign their recruitment paperwork and they enter the "pool" of future recruits waiting to leave for boot camp, either MCRD San Diego or Parris Island. They are now called Poolees.

My youngest son signed his commitment papers the beginning of his senior year and spent a year as a poolee. During this time he attended weekly Physical Training (PT) at the recruiting office. Physical training was only part of the events, education on the traditions, core values, and what it means to be a Marine was also taught.

Below is a video of a Family Day event at the recruiting center, this gave the poolees and their family's just a taste of what an encounter with a Drill Instructor (DI) would be like.

My son during a Family nite at the recruiting center

Eleven books are on the list for the career Marine in the Sergeant position. It would be fair to say if an enlisted Marine obtains the rank of Sergeant he, or she, is looking to pull the full twenty years and will read every book on the list. Only five readings are listed below.

A description and review of the full list can be found on the official Marine Corp website

Did you expect THE USMC would have such academic goals for their active Marines? If you're looking to enter the Marines did

As Marine Mom I network, I still live vicariously through my children, although they are adults. I like to share advice on what I've learned and I'm always interested in experiences of others.