Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book notes that three generations of current military leaders (co-)exist at any given moment, bringing with them different formative experiences and views on professionalism. It explores how generational differences help and hamper the transmission and evolution of contemporary understandings of the military as a profession within the context of civil-military relations. The book examines three interwar periods: post-World War I, post-Vietnam, and post-Gulf War, to understand the importance of teaching, learning, and mentorship in overcoming potential gaps developed due to each generation's unique socialization into the military and society. The book considers the relationship between preferred strategies for research on US civil-military relations and their ability to explain future success or failure in military adaptation to new global challenges and missions. Milan Vego describes, analyzes and critiques the practice of adopting various business models for some important and emerging US warfighting concepts.