I did a quick scan of the article - I know where he is coming from. I was a history major in the late 1960’s at a liberal arts college sponsored by the Florida Presbyterian Church. With an area specialty of post-Napoleonic Europe, sub-set war and politics, I wasn’t that popular in the department and oral and written finals - let’s just say I took them three times.
The real problem with military history in today’s colleges isn’t, IMHO, the topic or even war. Any study of war leads the student into black and white value judgments. The concept of all sides being equal and all societies being equally justified don’t hold up too well after your third or fifth massacre done by one side of a conflict. Little hard defending most of the European governments 1920 - 1950 because there is so much evidence that can be waved away.
It is, most unfortunately, an ignored subject at even our various military academies. Advanced degrees in arcane subjects don’t match a two-hundred year review of Russian history. BTW anyone who thought the Russians could change when the CCCP fell doesn’t understand the Russian culture. No new surprises (long range bomber missions, rebuilding the blue water navy, etc).
Me? Got the degree finally along with a teacher’s certificate. Ended up enlisting in the Air Force, getting a commission, flight training and 20 years in and out of the cockpit. Those long hours of enjoyable reading came in very handy more than once.
Sometimes the best thing is to read individual solders’ stories (novels, anecdotes, etc - as long as it’s not “Winter Soldier” by John Kerry) instead of plain historic scenarios.
Better not to teach something at all if they’re not going to “get it”... instead they can learn more about humans hopefully.
“Me? Got the degree finally along with a teacher’s certificate. Ended up enlisting in the Air Force, getting a commission, flight training and 20 years in and out of the cockpit. Those long hours of enjoyable reading came in very handy more than once.”
Good for you sir, and thank you for your service to the USA.