On Killing Remotely

The Psychology of Killing with Drones

By: Wayne Phelps (USMC Ret.) (USMC Ret.)

Narrated by: Matt Kugler

A “can’t-miss for anyone interested in current military affairs,” On Killing Remotely reveals and explores the costs—to individual soldiers and to society—of the way we wage war today (Kirkus Reviews, starred).

Throughout history society has determined specific rules of engagement between adversaries in armed conflict. With advances in technology, from armor to in the Middle Ages to nerve gas in World War I to weapons of mass destruction in our own time, the rules have constantly evolved. Today, when killing the enemy can seem palpably risk-free and tantamount to playing a violent video game, what constitutes warfare? What is the effect of remote combat on individual soldiers? And what are the unforeseen repercussions that could affect us all?

Lt Col Wayne Phelps, former commander of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft unit, addresses these questions and many others as he tells the story of the men and women of today’s “chair force.” Exploring the ethics of remote military engagement, the misconceptions about PTSD among RPA operators, and the specter of military weaponry controlled by robots, his book is an urgent and compelling reminder that it should always be difficult to kill another human being lest we risk losing what makes us human.

Critic reviews

“An essential read…We have crossed a new frontier in the age-old story of war.”—P. W. Singer, author of Wired for War and Ghost Fleet

“The most impressive and comprehensive account of 21st-century remote air warfare…A mesmerizing read: I was gripped from the first page to the last.”—Professor Peter Lee, author of Reaper Force

“A crucial 360° look at how remote warfare affects the crews fighting from afar.”—Major Scott Swanson, USAF (retired)

“Phelps pulls back the curtain on the high-demand RPA force…An insightful look at a uniquely gifted community of warriors.”—Lt. General Robert F. Hedelund, USMC

“The psychology of RPA combat is as secretive as the airframes themselves—remote, mysterious, and hard to find… This book should be required reading for all warriors.”—Karen House, MA, MSW, LMSW, LPC

“Phelps brings a crucial voice of analytical nuance…Insightful and thought-provoking.”
—Ian MacLeod, former co-chair of the International Panel on the Regulation of Autonomous Weapons

“A seminal work in understanding the toll that killing remotely takes on the people who operate and support lethal remotely piloted aircraft.”—Major General James Poss, USAF (retired)

“An extraordinary achievement…Destined to become a classic.”—Mitt Regan, Georgetown University Law Center

Eye Opening & Thought Provoking

The book provides a view into a new warfighter community b I highly recommend it

A thorough look into RPA culture.

Well narrated.
This book was a deep look into RPA culture up to the present day. However, I was disappointed by the echo of Grossman's anti-video game rhetoric.

Great compilation of facts

Dave Grossman’s On Killing/Combat was great. LtC Phelps book narrows the scope to RPA life in like fashion. It has been long in coming for an in depth review of the RPA world and the true unseen hardships endured by their crews.

EVERY decision maker of the military MUST READ!

Absolute must read

Excellent insights into the Remote Pilot Aviation. Well written and captures the reality and challenges of remote air vehicles operations.

Easy read, that’s insightful

On Killing Remotely is the perfect book for anyone looking to get into the mind of an RPA warrior. The book does an excellent job of recapping the development and current state of RPA systems, then deep dives into the stresses that the operators are placed under. The book's four sections help structure the difficult conversation that is killing remotely.
Having recently reread Dave Grossman's "On Killing,"; this book takes the next step by discussing the emotional and physical stress amplified by today's remote technologies. I would highly recommend this book to family and friends of anyone associated with unmanned systems. Even if not associated with RPAs, this is still an eye-opener for all of humanity.