Customer Reviews

Army Officer's Guide: 50th Edition

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4 star:		(3)
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Even though Marine Corps books make up the majority of my collection, The Army Officer's Guide is an excellent guide for any officer in any service. First, I have to say that it has alot more information on its service than the Marine Corps Officer's Guide has on it's service. The book has very informed sections on the different branches of the army, Career development, Army Organization, Assignments, Social Life, and Awards. It even has a full color 16 page section on army decorations, service medals, and badges. Its a good book for commissioned officers. Softcover at over 630 pages. This is the guide that Army Officers use.

Keith Bonn's "Army Officer's Guide" is a well-written and comprehensive manual for officers serving in the United States Army. But Lieutenant Colonel Bonn's book is also a superb reference work for anybody with an interest in this esteemed institution. The book was in its 48th edition (wow!) at the time of this review.

Bonn has packed a tremendous amount of useful and fascinating information into 639 pages. The visual appeal of the book is enhanced by a wealth of charts, diagrams, and other illustrations. Detailed drawings of uniforms and insignia, together with a full-color section on Army medals, ribbons, and badges, are an integral part of the "Guide." Another nice touch is the inclusion of a 1962 address by General Douglas MacArthur as the preface to the book.

It would be impossible in the space of a short review to summarize all of the areas covered in the book. But some of the sections that most impressed me included Bonn's detailed profiles of the various branches of the officers' corps (Infantry, Adjutant General, etc.) and his listing of professional movies and videos. Bonn also goes beyond merely providing facts by dealing with such philosophical issues as courage and leadership. This book is an essential reference work both for every library, and for every individual with a personal or professional interest in the U.S. Army.

This book is absolutely essential reading for new officers, especially those entering through direct commission. If you read this book cover to cover before attending your officer basic course, you will be WAY ahead of the game. A couple of chapters pertain only to those who will be on active duty, but I recommend Guard and Reservists read those as well for background.

This book is a must have for any Officer. I consider it the "bible". Almost anything that you will need to know is in this book from military funeral protocol to proper wear of the uniform. I occassionaly read this book cover to cover for a refresher and always seem to find something that I may have forgotten that I may not use on a daily basis. In short, this book is a must - COL Steven L. Labov

Duties, benefits, career, leadership, customs, uniforms and regulations. It is all here, plus much more. Seasoned soldier or newly accessioned, this is a must have in your library. You will use this as a reference and a guide for the rest of your career. The question is: "Do I keep a copy at home or the office?" The bible for army officers.

I bought this book after feeling out of my element as a new Army officer. There are so many little acronyms and words that I had no idea what they meant. This book helped emensly. It will go through what is expected of you, how to act, what to do, what not to do. I would definitely recommend this book to others who have recently joined, or are thinking of joining the Army as an officer.

I purchased this book as a gift for my son who will be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant next May. While I can't say I have any personal knowledge of the usefulness of this book, my son was thrilled to receive it, stating that his commanding officer had recommended it to the future officers in his command.

This book gives a detailed overview on what to expect once you get the butter bars pinned on you. It delves into a considerable amount of detail into topics such as army customs to obey, UCMJ laws that you should already know (but can't hurt to refresh upon) and other topics. If you are currently in OCS or are thinking about becoming an officer there is also a guide to the different branch opportunities that are available to Army officers such as aviation, infantry, intel, ect. Overall a great book that is definitely written and geared for current or aspiring officers.

I am honorably discharged as a Captian from the United States Army. This is the book that tells you the basics of what to expect in terms of military branches, duty stations, the Army "language", etc. Every US Army officer needs this book. It is a great reference for family, friends, media, and those who write about the Army. It has some excellent leadership principles in the book as well.

Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler

Every Army officer whould have a copy of this book, both as a reference and as a guide to many aspects of Army life. Its never been superceded except by new editions because it is the definitive guide.