CommissionED: The Air Force Officer Podcast

"Must Read" list for the Air Force officer

November 15, 2021 Colin Slade & Reed Gann
CommissionED: The Air Force Officer Podcast
"Must Read" list for the Air Force officer
Show Notes

I always hesitate to create “must read” book lists, but at my drill weekend this month I did just that. The situation is that one of my NCOs is interested in commissioning. They’ve already completed their degree, so what’s left for them to do now is their application and oral interview. To help them prepare, I put together a list of AFIs and books for them to read.

(Purchasing these books via the links below may result in a small commission and is a great way to support the show. Thanks!)

  1. AFDP 1 The Air Force
  2. AFI 1-1 Air Force Standards
  3. AFI 1-2 Commander’s Responsibilities
  4. AFH 36-2618 The Enlisted Force Structure
  5. AFMAN 36-2032 Military Recruiting and Accessions
  6. How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler 
  7. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
  8. Infinite Game by Simon Sinek 
  9. The Armed Forces Officer by Robert Swain and Albert Pierce
  10. Call Sign Chaos by James Mattis
  11. Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal
  12. The Mission, the Men, and Me by Pete Blaber
  13. Boyd by Robert Coram

My suggestion to my NCO was to read this list in the order provided and then answer the following questions:

  • What does it mean to be an Air Force officer?
  • Why do you want to be one?
  • What is your leadership philosophy?

So now that I’ve shared my list with you, I invite you to do the same. What resources do you think Air Force officers or those who want to be one should read? Why did you pick them? What follow up questions would you ask?


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