Confessions of a Weekend Warrior: Thirty-Five Years in the National Guard

by Brig. Gen. Paul "Greg" Smith , US Army (retired)

Overview

America's National Guard was once considered a ragtag gaggle of pretend soldiers. Beginning in the 1980s the National Guard gradually transformed into today's highly flexible operational force that answers our nation's call for overseas combat deployments as well as domestic emergencies that run the gamut from lifesaving disaster responses to staffing Covid clinics.

Brigadier General Paul "Greg" Smith describes his personal journey during these years, from a callow cadet to a committed commander leading military forces in response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Smith gives a humorous, gritty, and sometimes touching glimpse into the inner workings of this unique military organization while offering portraits of the men and women who serve as the minutemen of our age. His reflections on service, duty, and the complexities of command will enlighten anyone who seeks to better understand the challenges of leadership.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476694108
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	06/06/2024
Pages:	254
Sales rank:	96,765
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.51(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Paul “Greg” Smith served for more than 38 years in uniform, retiring as a US Army Brigadier General. He also pursued a parallel career as a special education teacher and high school administrator. His writing has appeared in Military History, ARMY, Canada’s History, Country Living, Career World and other periodicals. He teaches Counterterrorism Strategy at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Son of the Greatest Generation
“ROTC, It Sounds Like Some Bullshit to Me, to Me….”
Birth of a Weekend Warrior
Fun at Summer Camp
We Ride with Pride?
Riot Duty
The “Good Ole Guard”
Sex and Soldiering
Becoming a Commander
More Tales of Summer Fun
Justice
Unfinished Race
Limbo and Redemption
End of Innocence
Family
Rainbow Soldiers
Public Affairs
Operation Helping Hand
Heroes
Opportunity Knocks
The Land of “Not Quite Right”
Operation Big Ice
On the Border
Taps
Hubris
A Mighty Wind
The Global War on Terror Strikes Home
Chinese Intrigue
Purple Heart
Goodbye to All That
Chapter Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

Brigadier Greg Smith has written more than just a standard military memoir; he tells an extremely important story of his own career that also covers some of the seminal moments of the last forty years in U.S. and Massachusetts history. The insider's account of response to the Boston Marathon bombings of 2013 provides a particularly valuable perspective on domestic civilian/military relationships and coordination when confronting internal threats to the United States, as do the other case studies that Greg highlights from his experience as a participant. I also found Greg's frank statements of his positions refreshing; in particular, he does not pull his punches in discussing debates about who should be eligible to serve in the U.S. military. His important and possibly controversial forward thinking is best expressed in his own words: ‘the Army has worked harder at stamping out discrimination than most American institutions can claim. In the end, though, the greatest weapon the Army has in its arsenal to combat bigotry is the fierce loyalty that soldiers feel for their teammates, their brothers and sisters. ...  Although it was controversial, I was pleased to see 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' repealed. I believe the Army is healthier because of it and our society is stronger when all patriotic citizens, regardless of their sexuality, have the right to serve in its defense.’ This book will provide a new and vibrant insight into the identity and experience of the National Guard, and its important and evolving role in meeting the challenges of domestic security in the 21st century.”—Dr. Daniel Patrick Marston, Johns Hopkins University

From the Publisher