Analysis

Don Vandergriff's "The Path to Victory: America's Army and the Revolution in Human Affairs," second edition

Major Don Vandergriff (USA, ret.) has released the second--expanded and updated--edition of his critical analysis of the Army's officer corps, "The Path to Victory: America's Army and the Revolution in Human Affairs."

The book explains why and how the Army's leadership has simultaneously designed itself for bureaucratic success and leadership failure in battle. It is important reading, I believe, for any who want to understand of one of the most important problems that decays America's armed forces from within--and from the top.

The new second edition has a forward by Col. Douglas Macgregor (USA, ret.). It reads in part:

When Don's book appeared for the first time in 2002 it was not simply detailed account of the Army's personnel management system, its promotion policies and unit manning practices. It was also a critical examination of the Army as an institution and its extraordinary resistance to change in the way it identifies, develops and employs human talent. Most important, the book stipulated recommended changes informed by the ageless understanding that really great military success can be achieved only when leadership, technology and organization work hand in hand.

The book is available in Kindle form at Amazon here. It should be available in hard copy soon.