Real Soldiering

The US Army in the Aftermath of War, 1815-1980

By: Brian McAllister Linn

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

What happens to the US Army after the battles are over, the citizen soldiers depart, and all that remains is the Regular Army? In this pathbreaking work, Brian Linn argues that in each decade following every major conflict since the War of 1812 the postwar army has undergone a long, painful, and remarkably consistent recovery process as it struggled to build a new model force to replace the "Old Army" that entered the conflict.

Real Soldiering provides the first comprehensive study of the US Army's transition from war to peace. Linn challenges three common historical interpretations: confusing Washington policy with implementation in the field; conflating postwar armies with prewar armies; and describing certain postwar eras as distinct and transformational. Rather, Linn examines the postwar force as a distinct entity worthy of study as a unique and important part of US Army history.

Real Soldiering represents over four decades of research into the US Army and is deeply informed by Linn's experiences teaching and working with soldiers. Insightful and entertaining, provocative and empathetic, and a work of history with immediate relevance, Real Soldiering will resonate with military historians, defense analysts, and those who have proudly worn the US Army uniform.

©2023 the University Press of Kansas (P)2023 Tantor

Solid overview

A solid look at that part of military history that has a greater impact on how an Army will fight.

Change is hard

Would like to have heard the comparison notes and facts on the GWOT soldiers, as the author did for Soldiers from the civil war through Desert Storm.