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…
Blog
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…
Effectiveness of U.S. Paratroopers in Operation Overlord: Debate and Analysis
A Dialectical Debate Throughout the Second World War, most belligerents used some form of airborne operations to achieve effects on the battlefield. Costly trench warfare was a universal experience during World War I and fostered experimentations with paratroopers during the interwar period. In studying the Soviets interwar tests and early German operations, many American planners…
The United States and Guatemala
After anti-immigrant rhetoric culminated in a mass shooting in El Paso, it’s increasingly important to remember one of the reasons we’ve arrived at this point. History is not well suited for predicting the future, but it is perfect for explaining how we got to where we are. Regarding central American immigration, the United States’s influence…
Rethinking Preemptive War and Terrorism
When is it okay to strike first? The most commonly accepted paradigm for waging morally permissible, or just, war is in a war of self-defense. However, waiting until you are attacked is not the only manner in which to justify waging war. Most just war theorists agree that it is also morally permissible for a…