These were my favorite five books that I read in 2022. All excellent works that might be useful for a great many of you. Here is my annual best books list Soldiers From Experience: The Forging of Sherman’s Fifteenth Army Corps, 1862–1863 by Eric Michael Burke Burke’s novel concept of tactical culture, alongside his brilliant prose,…
All posts by R.F.M. Williams
About R.F.M. Williams
How Did The First World War Impact Military Aviation?
The development of three-dimensional combined arms. From the beginning of the war in 1914 through the armistice of 1918, the concept of air power developed from an ad hoc adventure into a formidable component of military strategy and combined arms warfare. Despite inconclusive short-term battlefield effects, military aviation forced commanders to account for it at…
What the Liberal Arts Offer Veterans
Maximize education benefits by training for citizenship Veterans seem to gravitate toward business degrees from institutions with less than stellar reputations — usually for-profit universities. While I was in the Army, if I was pushed to education, my senior enlisted mentors recommended these sort of programs. When you are an enlisted servicemember, the push for…
The Civilian-Military Divide on Campus
The gap between civilians and the military is palpable at college campuses across the country and the difference between a freshman with four years of military experience and even their similarly aged college senior couldn’t be starker. During more than two decades of war, the American population has sacrificed nearly nothing while an increasingly homogenous warrior…
Powerpoint: An Ode to the Medium
PowerPoint. What a misused and misunderstood tool. PowerPoint is still a powerful tool. When used properly, it can offer a visual stimulus to a boring lecture or discussion. Unfortunately, the power of PowerPoint is regularly abused. Too often, I see PowerPoint used as a “crutch.” Teachers who don’t understand the material will use a PowerPoint class…
Sulla: The False Savior of the Roman Republic
Many regard Sulla as the savior of the Roman republic. However, that is incorrect. Before his reign, Sulla marched his Army on Rome itself twice and established himself as a dictator, and in so doing challenged Roman Mos Maiorum. As dictator, Sulla gained control through a reign of terror that had not existed in Rome since the…
Favorite Books in 2021
These were my favorite five books that I read in 2021. I know I’m a little late on putting this together, but I still think these are wonderful books, and I hope these notes are helpful to someone. I will do another five for 2022 sometime in early 2023. Here are my five favorite books…
Philip, Greater Than Alexander?
Father really did know best Alexander was a great military mind who expanded his empire and Greek influence further than anyone could have imagined. He was brilliant, charismatic, and aggressive; however, he owes his success to his father. Without a visionary father, Alexander would not have enjoyed the overwhelming success that defines him. While the…
What were Spartan Motives in the Peloponnesian War?
Fear. Honor. Interest. While multiple incidents drove the Spartans to declare war on Athens, the fear of Athenian power was undoubtedly not the driving force behind Sparta’s decision. A mighty Athens presented a clear and present danger to the economic and political sovereignty of the Peloponnesian League and required a response. Athens displayed strong empirical…
The Impact of the Post 9/11 GI Bill
Education is life Education saves lives. Education gives life. United States military veterans are fortunate enough to receive one of the most comprehensive benefit packages ever conceived — the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Unfortunately, far too many veterans elect not to take advantage of it. Only thirteen percent of Post 9/11 veterans use education benefits, according…