I am currently reading "5 Years to Freedom" by James N. Rowe. Do you have any suggested "must reads" before I commission next May?

Read "Once an Eagle", by Anton Myrer. For a work of fiction, one of the best written studies in leadership and ethics I have ever seen. The story spans WWI through the peacetime army of the 1920s and 30s, through WWII. Sam Damon and Courtney Massengale are two bitter rivals for career and promotions. Damon has moral courage. Massengale is an unethical perfumed prince.

Little over a month ago, we had a retired Major General talk to the cadets in my program. Before his talk, he was looking at the library that we have in our classroom. He pointed out ONCE AN EAGLE by Anton Myrer and said the book looked decidedly unread. He said that it was a classic and he had several bosses who used it regularly. As someone who prides myself on reading a lot of the classics, I wondered why I never heard of it before. So a few days later, I took it home and just finished reading it today. It is a contrast between the two general types of leaders in the Army. The one who really cares about their Soldiers and does their best to lead them. The other is the one who uses connections to work through the ranks and punches the necessary tickets to get promoted. After reading this, I do recommend it as well. It is almost 950 pages so it will take some time.