To Benning & Back: Volume I: The Making Of A Citizen Soldier - My Journals of Daily Life in US Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Monroe Mann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2007

The true, daily, blow-by-blow journal entries of the author as he went through Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School, concluding with his being called to active duty for the first time on September 11th, 2001.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

[November 2002, Bloomington, Ind.]
How Cool is Khaki?
New Book Depicts 9/11 and Army Life from a Gen-X Perspective.

Rarely are the words "cool" or "hip" used to describe military life, but a unique new book from Unlimited Publishing LLC titled "To Benning and Back" may change the way young adults view what serving their country means in post-9/11 America.

"To Benning and Back: The Making of a Citizen Soldier" recounts the daily, blow-by-blow journal entries of NYC-based actor Monroe Mann, as he completed Basic Training and Officer Candidate School, became an officer in the Army National Guard, and saw duty at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001.

On October 7, 2002, Mann (Age 25) appeared on CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Reports in a lively broadcast highlighting Mann’s remarkable life as an actor, "gung-ho motivator," author of two books, and as a "Citizen Soldier" in the Army National Guard who served in NYC on 9/11. This book tells the rest of the story.

Written in the style and language of today’s youth, "To Benning and Back" speaks to young Americans on their own terms, offering a refreshing new view of duty, honor and country for the 21st century. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Monroe Mann is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the founder and president of Unstoppable Artists, LLC and Loco Dawn Films, LLC in New York City. He is also the author of number of other books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse; 2nd edition (February 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425996000
• ISBN-13: 978-1425996000
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi All,

I hope you enjoy reading my books and reviews. If you like them, perhaps you might also like to join my email list, which you can join at either www.MonroeMann.com or www.UnstoppableArtists.com.

For more info, search my name on Amazon or Google. And feel free to contact me directly. :)

ROMP ON!
-Monroe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bought back memories, August 21, 2009

By 

Ric (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Benning & Back: Volume I: The Making Of A Citizen Soldier - My Journals of Daily Life in US Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I went through Marine Corps bootcamp over 16 years ago and I continue to serve in the Army Reserves today. After all these years I could still relate to this book. This unique book shares the trials and tribulations shared by all who experience bootcamp or basic training regardless of the branch. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering joining the military or who is simply interested in the military experience. I look forward to reading volumes II & III as well as other books by Monroe. Also,check out his website at [...].

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars US Army Basic Training hasn't changed in 50 years, March 22, 2009

By 

Michael P. Armstrong - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Benning & Back: Volume I: The Making Of A Citizen Soldier - My Journals of Daily Life in US Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Lt Mann captures what it is like to go through basic combat training and OCS. He lays out the good and bad of the US Army training methods for making warriors. Reminds me of the training when I went through in the 70's. He accurately captures the smell, feel, and fatigue of learning to operate in a new environment with new stress etc. He captures the essence of the training base Army. A fine read for someone who has gone through and wants to relive the experience- or for a prospective soldier wanting to know what to expect! I can't recommend this book highly enough and look forward to his next work. It is good to have a real patriot in the entertainment field. And thanks to his family for suppoort of this soldier.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars To Benning and back to tell all, August 3, 2007

By 

Veronica Saunders "R. Wilkins" (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Benning & Back: Volume I: The Making Of A Citizen Soldier - My Journals of Daily Life in US Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Monroe Mann's "To Benning and Back: The Making of a Citizen Soldier" is an honest portrait of the United States Army's Basic Training at Fort Benning and the New York Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School at Camp Smith. Military literary sketches are often crowded with heroic jargon and feats of super hero performances, whereas, LT Mann's story tells of the heartache and uncertainty a soldier feels while undergoing some of the toughest training in the military. He holds nothing back. Not even the heroic jargon and super hero feats. This is Monroe's honest story of his ups and downs, his highs and lows, his good decisions and his bad. "To Benning and Back..." should be required reading for anyone considering the Army National Guard's Officer Candidate School.

Hooah,

Rudy