"Until the involvement in Vietnam, the American military establishment enjoyed a relatively exalted position in the eyes of most Americans. Rooted in the past, the image of the military man combined the virtues of the heroic leader with those of the unselfish warrior and devoted servant." With these words, Sam C. Sarkesian begins "The Professional Army Officer in a Changing Society," a frank appraisal of the American military, both as a socio-political institution and as an organization of professional men and women. Its purpose is "not to diagnose the ills of the military or to prescribe for its health...but to provide an insight into the life of a professional Army officer in order to provide a more realistic understanding and perspective of the role of the military in the post-Vietnam era." Sarkesian's book is the first to look specifically at subjects such as politics within the profession, as well as at things like the informal aspects of marriage and family as they affect or affected by the profession. As such, its approach is basically humanistic and it fills a vacuum created by writers and researchers who have little knowledge of the Army from within and report more civilian myths than military facts. Full chapters are devoted to the military family, special units, the Pentagon, and civilian graduate schools. The proud triple allegiance to Duty, Honor and Country is explained in depth. Throughout, the Army is seen as a valuable source of energy, courage, and intelligence in the service of the nation.

What it's all about -- The military profession -- The Pentagon -- The shadow world -- The military family -- Ticket-punching or professionalism? -- Command duty -- Airborne and special units -- Professional schools -- Civilian graduate school -- Academy assignment-duty, honor, country -- Politics and the profession -- The emerging elite -- Old soldiers never die -- The heritage of Vietnam -- Beyond the age of Aquarius -- The all-volunteer military -- A new professionalism.