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AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service -- and How It Hurts Our Country Paperback – May 1, 2007

4.2 out of 5 stars 60

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In America, it is increasingly the case that the people who make, support, or protest military policy have no military experience. As Kathy Roth-Douquet and Frank Schaeffer assert in this groundbreaking work, the gap between the "all-volunteer military" and the rest of us is widening, and our country faces a dangerous lack of understanding between those in power and those who defend our way of life.


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Editorial Reviews

Review

“As America looks for balance in a dangerous and complex world, AWOL is a great place to start.” — General Tommy Franks (retired)

“AWOL drives home...the need to address the evaporating sense of duty and service to our nation.” — General Les Palm (retired), President and CEO Marine Corps Association

“AWOL is unique in its scope, intent and implications. [It] is clearly written and meticulously researched.” — Leatherneck Magazine

About the Author

Kathy Roth-Douquet is a veteran of the Clinton White House and every presidential campaign of the past twenty-four years and is the author with Frank Schaeffer of AWOL. She lives with her marine officer husband on Parris Island, South Carolina.



Frank Schaeffer is a New York Times bestselling author whose books include Keeping Faith (as seen on Oprah) and Crazy for God. He lives in Salisbury, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (May 1, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060888601
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060888602
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.61 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 60

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
60 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2006
When the "Red and Blue America" article came out in (I believe) the New Yorker some years ago, it felt as if the whole country did a collective nod and proudly proclaimed allegiance to one or the other color. As a purple, this left me in a bit of a pickle. I found friends and family could reasonably disagree on any number of topics - from nuclear power to health care - but the single most divisive topic between Reds and Blues(even more so than abortion and religion) was the Military. As Ms. Roth-Douquet and Mr. Schaeffer have pointed out, Reds and Blues simply share very little common ground on the military anymore and this leaves them each speaking in a language the other does not understand. When a soldier uses the word "patriotism" on a television newscast, a Blue hears "jingoism." When a liberal holds a peace sign at an anti-war rally, the mother of a Marine serving in Iraq sees it as a declaration of war against her son and his values. Kathy Roth-Douquet and Frank Schaeffer have taken it upon themselves to become translators for the Reds and Blues on this issue and thank God (or the Universe) that they have. America is a country of many ideas and beliefs. We can celebrate our differences, we can boo and hiss at our opponents, we can (increasingly less) agree to disagree - but the one binding force has always been our across the board participation in the military. Until recently, no matter who we were or where we were from, all of us had a friend of family member who had served. It's easy to forget this. It is also easy to overlook the fact that it is only in the military where an urban black is forced to learn to trust a white Southerner with his life - and vice versa. Only in the service of their country have the rich and poor served side by side, doing the same job and getting paid the same wages. The military is the ultimate meritocracy and meritocracy is the backbone of our country. AWOL is a thoughtful and timely book that I intend to recommend - if not read out loud - to every friend (Red or Blue) I have.
7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2010
If nothing else, this book puts into perspective some of the social/economic classes in the US, and their relationship with the military today, versus what it was not too long ago. Ironically, the military itself is one giant class system (arguably even more pronounced than the civilian world), but I digress...

I think it's a good read. It does get a bit repetitive in spots. I think they could have easily trimmed about 25% off the book, and still had the desired message, but that's just me.

If nothing else, it's could help start an interesting debate or two.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2006
I write these comments admittedly from the perspective of an individual that has valued our country's military branches and its veterans.

For the sake of full disclosure, my father served in World War II as a US Naval Officer. He became a Naval officer after turning down a scholarship to the University of Vermont and enlisting out of high school. The Navy enrolled him in their V-12 program. I spent a year as a member of the Air Force's ROTC program during the final year of the draft and the Vietnam War. My college's corps was closed and I have never served. Know my son is waiting to hear if he will get a medical exemption so that he can accept the ROTC scholarship that he was awarded. By the way, my son was adopted from India and is very grateful for what this, his, county has provided.

We are not of the "Upper Class" but my son is a graduate of an Independent Prep School in Maryland and was schooled with many from the "Upper Classes"

This book speaks volumes to me and states so eloquently what I have thought but was unable to put in to words. AWOL reminds us of our responsibility, as citizens, to this county. It poignantly addresses the issues of our future leadership in this county and our needs. Those that either agree or disagree with the current direction that we are taking both at home and abroad should read this with an open mind.

As an unabashed conservative I gained a better recognition of what our leaders experience and what they could experience and maybe what they should experience.

Kathy and Frank, offer opinions and suggestions that should at the very least start a National debate.

To them I offer my services and my time, it is the least I can do. As a father and as an American, I will be providing copies of this book to my son's friends and their families as well as the Headmaster of his Prep School and the School's library.
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2016
The authors poignantly illuminate the troubling nature of the growing gap between public administration and military service. They have a perspective sorely missing among those who influence public policy. They cross a divide: both are familiar with the Capitol Hill elite and have direct contact with military service and deployment within their immediate families. Based on their research and personal experiences they arrive at the troubling and accurate conclusion that “Members of the military are strangers to the upper classes. And it seems privileged folks want to keep it that way.” They point out that as policy makers are more separated from the military they are less likely to have a positive view of service and those who serve.

This book takes on renewed importance during the national executive transition, as a new administration makes leadership appointments and Congress is asked for its consent. The authors’ perspective is invaluable for avoiding bad choices by those who are unfamiliar with the realities of military service. Already we see yet further disconnect between the Washington elites, who seem almost to fear having military leaders within civil government, and rank-and-file Americans, who clamor for the real-world experience and integrity that they associate with those who truly have put themselves on the line.

Charles Szypszak, author of 
Military Leadership Lessons for Public Service
2 people found this helpful
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