Connected Soldiers
Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War
By John Spencer | Publisher: Potomac Books
About the book
2023 Gold Medal in Biography/Memoir from the Military Writers Society of America
John Spencer was a new second lieutenant in 2003 when he parachuted into Iraq leading a platoon of infantry soldiers into battle. During that combat tour he learned how important unit cohesion was to surviving a war, both physically and mentally. He observed that this cohesion developed as the soldiers experienced the horrors of combat as a group, spending their downtime together and processing their shared experiences.
When Spencer returned to Iraq five years later to take command of a troubled company, he found that his lessons on how to build unit cohesion were no longer as applicable. Rather than bonding and processing trauma as a group, soldiers now spent their downtime separately, on computers communicating with family back home. Spencer came to see the internet as a threat to unit cohesion, but when he returned home and his wife was deployed, the internet connected him and his children to his wife on a daily basis.
In Connected Soldiers Spencer delivers lessons learned about effective methods for building teams in a way that overcomes the distractions of home and the outside world, without reducing the benefits gained from connections to family.
Editions of Connected Soldiers
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781640125124
- EBook
- ISBN 9781640125179
- EBook
- ISBN 9781640125162
Read an Excerpt
2023 Gold Medal in Biography/Memoir from the Military Writers Society of America
John Spencer was a new second lieutenant in 2003 when he parachuted into Iraq leading a platoon of infantry soldiers into battle. During that combat tour he learned how important unit cohesion was to surviving a war, both physically and mentally. He observed that this cohesion developed as the soldiers experienced the horrors of combat as a group, spending their downtime together and processing their shared experiences.
When Spencer returned to Iraq five years later to take command of a troubled company, he found that his lessons on how to build unit cohesion were no longer as applicable. Rather than bonding and processing trauma as a group, soldiers now spent their downtime separately, on computers communicating with family back home. Spencer came to see the internet as a threat to unit cohesion, but when he returned home and his wife was deployed, the internet connected him and his children to his wife on a daily basis.
In Connected Soldiers Spencer delivers lessons learned about effective methods for building teams in a way that overcomes the distractions of home and the outside world, without reducing the benefits gained from connections to family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Connected Soldiers about?
2023 Gold Medal in Biography/Memoir from the Military Writers Society of America
John Spencer was a new second lieutenant in 2003 when he parachuted into Iraq leading a platoon of infantry soldiers into battle. During that combat tour he learned how important unit cohesion was to surviving a war, both physically and mentally. He observed that this cohesion developed as the soldiers experienced the horrors of combat as a group, spending their downtime together and processing their shared experiences.
When Spencer returned to Iraq five years later to take command of a troubled company, he found that his lessons on how to build unit cohesion were no longer as applicable. Rather than bonding and processing trauma as a group, soldiers now spent their downtime separately, on computers communicating with family back home. Spencer came to see the internet as a threat to unit cohesion, but when he returned home and his wife was deployed, the internet connected him and his children to his wife on a daily basis.
In Connected Soldiers Spencer delivers lessons learned about effective methods for building teams in a way that overcomes the distractions of home and the outside world, without reducing the benefits gained from connections to family.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Connected Soldiers?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: historical, political and military
Where can I read a sample of Connected Soldiers?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781640125124
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Connected Soldiers?
John Spencer
Who is the Publisher of the book Connected Soldiers?
Potomac Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Connected Soldiers is available as paperback(ISBN 9781640125124) and ebook(ISBN 9781640125179) and ebook(ISBN 9781640125162)
Where can I buy Connected Soldiers online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Connected Soldiers from below
Where can I buy Connected Soldiers?