A Year in Command in Afghanistan: Journal of a United States Army Battalion Commander, 2009-2010 - Paperback

by Michael J. Forsyth (Author)

During his 2009-2010 combat tour in Afghanistan, battalion commander Lt. Col. Michael J. Forsyth kept a daily journal. In it he candidly wrote about his daily interactions with the Afghan government, citizens, security forces, and his intermittent conflict with the enemy. As the deployment progressed, the journal reveals that his initial expectations for peace in Afghanistan were tempered by his experiences and encounters. In the process, Col. Forsyth learned critical lessons in leadership and changed his thinking about realistic goals that can be accomplished in Afghanistan. The journal, and its subsequent annotations, also provides a glimpse into how the U.S. Army functions at the unit level and what America's soldiers do on a daily basis.

Author Biography

Colonel Michael J. Forsyth (U.S. Army retired) holds a PhD in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and is an associate professor and director of the Department of Command and Leadership at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He is the author of several books and has published many articles on history and military affairs in several publications.