In Contact! Case Studies from the Long War

With In Contact! Case Studies from the Long War, Volume I, the his¬torians of the Combat Studies Institute (CSI) have produced a historical anthology to support Army schools, to promote general professional devel¬opment in the field, and to inform the American people about the missions performed by their Army in this "long war." These case studies include both lethal and nonlethal missions per¬formed by Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The events chronicled herein span the spectrum of participants from officers to noncommissioned offi¬cers and from combat units to support personnel, all in contact with a vicious and unforgiving enemy. CSI's authors made use of a variety of unclassified material and were able to contact and interview many of the key participants in each of these events. Each case study provides valuable insights for Soldiers and military professionals. In Contact! builds on the methods used in the widely distrib¬uted and renowned Infantry in Battle and Seven Firefights in Vietnam. As the Introduction explains, the format allows the case studies to be read as traditional narratives-following each case study from its initial situa¬tion, to its dilemma, through to its resolution. They can also be used in the Army school system as a teaching tool by having students read through the dilemma, then fostering student discussion and analysis of options before moving on to the actual historical conclusion. As the long war continues around the world, the insights gained from this book will better prepare the Soldiers of the US Army for tomorrow's endeavors.