To Benning and Back: The Making of a Citizen Soldier - My Journals of Daily Life in U.S. Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate School, from Private to Second Lieutenant, from First Call to Lights Out, and Yes, Everything in Between. (Paperback)

~ Monroe Mann (Author)
Key Phrases: chow formation, ruck march, land nav, Monroe Mann, Fort Benning, Camp Smith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

FROM THE BACK COVER:

You have in your hands 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. If you have ever wondered what basic military combat training is really like, and what it really does to you physically, mentally, and otherwise—or simply just want to relive it—read this book. It is probably as close to feeling the real thing as you can get (short of doing it). Most books about such events are either written after the fact in the past tense by someone who went through it years earlier, or written in the third person by someone tagging along who has no idea what is really going on. This book is different. It’s all in the present; it’s all in the first person; little has been cut; everything is true; the adventure is real. Enjoy.

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Unlimited Publishing (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588320693
• ISBN-13: 978-1588320698
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #422,069 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 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 [...].

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not impressed, January 7, 2005

By	Hemlock - See all my reviews

Just read through about 230 pages of Monroe Mann's journal/diary account of his days spent at BCT and OCS and will read no farther. His book, entitled [u]To Benning and Back: The Making of a Citizen Soldier[/u], is a shameless and puling account of a snivelling boy's journey (he certainly was not a man when he wrote the entries) through the Army indoctrination and training process. It is a ceaseless series of whining entries about how difficult boot camp is and how he continually doubts his decision to join the Army--note: Mann really wants to be an actor and fears that his Army training will interfere with his acting career. He even goes so far as to say that he would prefer playing the role of an officer than actually being an officer! The author also shares with his readers startling revelations about how boot camp is uncomfortable--DS's actually yell at you and make you exercise--outrageous! and I thought boot camp was a day spa--glad he set me straight on that. He also tells his readers that Boot Camp is not fun (really, I thought is was a Disneyland simulation!)--while at Boot Camp you actually have to work and accept accountability for your actions; he even reveals that you have to be responsible while you are there--what was the Army thinking! Mann is a middling author at best (and, that's being kind), and a poorly motivated and uninspiring officer at worst. He is not the kind of man I want leading my men into battle.

Final note: There is one good lesson to be taken from Mann's book: if you find that your feelings about training and a career as an officer resemble those of the author, you had best remain clear of military service. The military needs leaders who find satisfaction in getting the job done, not doubting malcontents who bridle against every hardship.

Adversity causes some men to break and others to break records
--anonymous

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