Assignment: Pentagon: How to Excel in a Bureaucracy » (Fourth, Revised)

Maj. Gen. Perry M. Smith worked in the Pentagon for many years and logged extensive operational and leadership experience. He flew more than 180 combat missions during the Vietnam War, including 50 over North Vietnam, and later commanded a wing of F-15s in Germany. He has frequently appeared as a military analyst on CBS, CNN, and National Public Radio.

Colonel Daniel M. Gerstein has served in combat, peace, and humanitarian operations on four continents during his twenty-six-year Army career. In 2004-5, he served as a Military Fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of numerous publications; his most recent book is Securing America’s Future: National Strategy in the Information Age. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

The essential guide to working in the Pentagon

Preface to the Fourth Edition     ix
Introduction     1
The Pentagon: An Introduction
A View of the Building     7
The Pentagon: Realities and Myths     17
Pentagon Truisms     27
The Strange Language of the Puzzle Palace     45
The Key Players
Where Were You When the Page was Blank? The Agony and Ecstasy of the Action Officer     65
The Branch and Division Chiefs: A Forgotten Breed     83
Flag Officers, Senior Civilians, and Political Appointees: The Need for Leadership     93
The Services     109
The Joint Staff     117
The Office of the Secretary of Defense     129
The Interagency Arena     141
Working With Defense Contractors     147
The Pentagon's Constituents     153
Running the Pentagon
The Complex Pattern of Rivalry and Competition     161
Understanding the Process (and Keeping the Gears Turning)     167
Operating in the Tank: A View From the Inner Sanctum     177
How to Give and Receive Briefings in the Pentagon     183
Enjoying the Tour
Rules of Thumb: Helpful Hints on How to Get Ready to Work, Survive, and Thrive     191
Difficult Bosses     209
Military Ethics in the Pentagon     215
The Heartbreak of House Hunting     221
Family, Cultural, Academic, and Job Opportunities     227
Conclusions: Back to the Future     231
Appendixes
Recommended References     241
Transition Into the Pentagon Checklist     247
Interviewing     249
Glossary     251
Department of Defense     261
Index     263
About the Authors     271