Generals are made, not born. They seldom make headlines, but when they do, they often are in deep trouble. Here are the military leadership failures of Vietnam, body counts and atrocities, moral and ethical lapses, paradoxes of power and powerlessness, privileges of high rank, family and social demands, myth of "civilian control," and the Army's struggle for reform. 'The Generals: Making It, Military-Style' reveals exactly how men--and a few women--enter the inner elite of the Army. After accessing hundreds of warriors accustomed to keeping a low public profile, including several dozen generals whose names appear in the index, Maureen Mylander wrote a personalized documentary of some of the last remaining scared cows in America. The author, an Army brat and investigative journalist, explores a world of warriors Americans admire, yet know little about. The Generals remains on reading lists of military war colleges and service academies, and a timeless guide for understanding generals and for learning how to become one.--Amazon.com.

The public profile -- How many generals? -- Port of entry -- Up the ladder -- Schools for generals -- Mrs. General -- Final selection -- The compleat general -- Jobs generals do -- The inner elite -- Power and the pentagon -- Rank hath -- Conditions of service -- Old soldiers -- Struggle for reform -- Propositions -- Epilogue -- Appendix A : rank and precedence -- Appendix B : the composite general.