The citizen-officer ideal: a historical and literary inquiry
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Authors
DeBuse, Mark R.
Subjects
George Washington
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
George C. Marshall
Citizenship
Beowulf
Sir Gawain
Cincinnatus
Chivalry
Citizen-officer
Citizen-soldier
Soldierstatesman
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
George C. Marshall
Citizenship
Beowulf
Sir Gawain
Cincinnatus
Chivalry
Citizen-officer
Citizen-soldier
Soldierstatesman
Advisors
Pierce, Albert C.
Franck, Raymond E.
Date of Issue
2005-03
Date
March 2005
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Due to their unique expertise, military officers have always held a special position within Western society. Yet, while individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of warfare and prowess in battle have long been held in high regard by society and the members of their profession, it is those who have also demonstrated the ideals of citizenship and chivalry who serve as the icons for thoughtful military officers. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the evolution of the citizen-officer ideal- through a close study of historical and literary case studies. By establishing a common theme or values among completely separate exemplars of this ideal, a continuum joining Odysseus, Cincinnatus, Beowulf, and Gawain to Washington, Chamberlain, and Marshall might eventually be carried forward to the present and the modern military officer. Specific focus is given to the roles that classical notions of citizenship and the Code of Chivalry have played in shaping the ethos of the American officer.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xii, 139 p. : ill. (some col.)
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.