How to Study Military History

By Jennifer Boyden

© United States Army © United States Army

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The military history of any country is an integral part of understanding its future. The military history of the world is interrelated; no one country can act without affecting nations on the other side of the globe. But if military history stretches through time and space, how do you begin to study it? With time, determination and passion you can connect the pieces, whether you’re a inquisitive civilian or a hopeful soldier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step1
Take military history classes. Most universities offer classes on military history and some larger colleges and military institutions even offer degrees, both online and on-campus, in military history. Whether you desire an undergraduate or graduate degree, or simply want to supplement your education with a few courses, college is the best arena to explore any academic curiosity.
Step2
Subscribe to a military magazine. Various military-themed magazines exist to keep both soldiers and civilians up-to-date on developments in the armed forces. By subscribing to a few of these magazines, you can ensure that you will always have weekly or monthly military tidbits to ponder. Leatherneck is the famous magazine geared toward Marine training, equipment and history, while the Canadian Military Journal focuses on matters of Canadian defense. Military History, Vietnam, World War II and Civil War Times all focus on American military history, and Military Magazine, a publication comprised of first-hand accounts of warfare, is popular among veterans and enlisted personnel.
Step3
Read military history books. There are an infinite amount of military books available from around the world; in fact, most libraries and bookstores have specific shelves dedicated to the study of military history. While some books focus on specific wars, others are biographies of famous generals or studies of aircraft, weaponry and training. Both the United States Army Chief of Staff and the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps have released Professional Reading Lists. Intended to further the knowledge of non-commissioned and commissioned officers, the books listed are considered the essential studies of the entire spectrum of American military history.
Step4
Watch military films. Both documentaries and fictional films have a lot to offer to the study of military history. Movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down, while not always completely accurate, do help to re-create the emotional overload of war. Documentaries often contain real-life footage, interviews and other media direct from the frontlines; while they do not always approach military history from the realm of emotion, they do approach it with facts and statistics.
Step5
Visit military museums. While most museums include military-related exhibits, military museums are completely dedicated to furthering military knowledge and appreciation. Almost every country has at least one military museum; in the United States, there are museums dedicated to specific branches of the armed forces, individual leaders, battleships, aircraft and even military bases. These museums, littered across the country, remain testaments to the sacrifices of generations of soldiers.

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eHow Article: How to Study Military History

Article By: Jennifer Boyden

Jennifer Boyden

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Category: Careers & Work

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