In his lecture “Military History and the American Experience: A Soldier’s Personal Reflection,” Colonel Bart Howard, participant of Operation Desert Storm and the war in Afghanistan, emphasized the need for citizens of a democracy to learn about the history and nature of its military, especially when warfare is constantly in the public eye.

As the current assistant chief of staff of the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) spoke of his more than 26 years of service, he shed light on the history, symbolism and rituals of the American military tradition.

During the Gulf War, which was Howard’s first active military engagement, he witnessed how the military experience transcends mere combat. “We developed an incredible sense of companionship after passing hardship together,” Howard said. “This is why the military is indeed a tribe that we call the army.”

According to Howard, through military campaigns, soldiers become fond of traditions and symbolisms that may be insignificant to civilians. “The army is a tribe because of the sense of belonging it provides its members. The Taliban, amidst all their questionable actions, do provide a good example of what a tribe is. They all [share] the sense of being part of a larger organization,” Howard said. In order to comprehend the military and its warfare, he said “it is first necessary for civilians to understand what these tribes are.”

For Howard, the strength of the American military derives primarily from its quality of training and the free communication that exists between its members. “We train harder than any other army in the world under the most realistic conditions,” he said. “What makes us different and truly revolutionary is the constant communication of concerns and constructive critics between officers of all levels.”

Contrary to popular misconceptions, soldiers are not emotionless ‘combat machines,’ Howard emphasized. “Military interventions are utterly confusing, [and] stressful for the soldiers that are part of them.”

At the end of the day, the success of almost all military campaigns resides in the communication between its actors, according to Howard.

“It is all about the ability to talk, to express, to communicate,” he said.

“As you read history, I want you to understand it through the perspective of someone who lived it,” said Howard, who believes that a truly informed populace about the military will be able to reach better conclusions and make better choices about it.

As he answered questions from both students and professors, Colonel Howard promised to “speak without politics.” Among his various responses, Howard expressed his uncertainty about whether there is any real military solution to the crisis in the Middle East and a concern for how the Obama administration may not fulfill the expectatioMake plays, not excuses: Colonel Bart Howard discusses his perceptions of military from private soldier to senior officerns — in terms of military policies — held by the international community.

Joo-Rak Son grad said that a powerful military, like that of America, is needed by all nation-states that want to protect their autonomy. Nonetheless, Son said that having a military of such magnitudes, in order to create an American empire, is “a very different story.”

“[It's] very unusual to have a colonel visit campus,” Prof. Barry Strauss, history said. Strauss believes that the opportunity for Cornell students to meet speakers like Howard, who intersect history and personal experience, is necessary for their development as citizens: such stories provide students with a more practical approach to understand the world that surrounds them.

“Civilians should learn more about war,” Strauss said. According to him, a saying by Leon Trotsky suits to perfection current reality: “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.” Strauss highlighted how the history department includes several courses on the subject, reflecting the importance of the military.

Jason Oaks grad, said that Howard’s talk was very effective in presenting a more humane side of the military. “It is important for civilians to know that the military welcomes free debate,” Oaks said in response the fluid dynamic of the discussion session following the lecture. “I think it is important for people at Cornell, who in the future might be involved in politics, to understand the logistics of military operations. This event depicted the experience of the military out of the battle-zone and its intention of sharing it with the civilians.”

The lecture was organized by the University’s Program on Freedom and Free Societies, which Strauss directs.