American Soldiers In Iraq: Mcsoldiers Or Innovative Professionals? (cass Military Studies)

American Soldiers in Iraq offers a unique snapshot of American soldiers in Iraq, analyzing their collective narratives in relation to the military sociology tradition. Grounded in a century-long tradition of sociology offering a window into the world of American soldiers, this volume serves as a voice for their experience. It provides the reader with both a generalized and a deep view into a major social institution in American society and its relative constituents-the military and soldiers-during a war. In so doing, the book gives a backstage insight into the U.S. military and into the experiences and attitudes of soldiers during their most extreme undertaking-a forward deployment in Iraq while hostilities are intense. The author triangulates qualitative and quantitative field data collected while residing with soldiers in Iraq, comparing and contrasting various groups from officers to enlisted soldiers, as well as topics such as boredom, morale, preparation for war, day-to-day life in Iraq, attitudes, women soldiers, communication with the home-front, "McDonaldization" of the force, civil-military fusion, the long-term impact of war, and, finally, the socio-demographics of fatalities. The heart of American Soldiers in Iraq captures the experiences of American soldiers deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom at the height of the conflict in a way unprecedented in the literature to date. This book will be essential reading for students of military studies, sociology, American politics and the Iraq War, as well as being of much interest to informed general readers. American Soldiers in Iraq McSoldiers or Innovative Professionals? Copyright Contents List of tables List of charts Acknowledgments List of acronyms Military ranks and pay grades by branch of service U.S. Army units, number of personnel, composition, and the typical rank of the commander 1 Introduction: American soldiers 2 Creeping banality: the boredom factor and American soldiers 3 Troop morale: the social psychology of American soldiers 4 Fusion and fissure: American soldier attitudes toward social issues 5 Over there: American soldier attitudes toward foreign issues 6 McSoldiers: human tools or innovative professionals? 7 Real G. I. Janes: American female soldiers in war 8 Baghdad calling: soldier communications with other fronts 9 Turning point: Iraq as a change agent for American soldiers 10 Death in the American ranks: class war or equal opportunity 11 Conclusion: soldiers, minds, and American society Appendices Notes Bibliography Index American Soldiers In Iraq Offers A Unique Sociological Snapshot Of American Soldiers In Iraq, Analyzing Their Collective Narratives In Relation To The Military Sociology Tradition--provided By Publisher. Morten G. Ender. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [166]-191) And Index.