Assignment Pentagon : how to excel in a bureaucracy - Smith, Perry M., (Perry McCoy) (Potomac Books, 2007)
Includes bibliographical references and index
pt I. The Pentagon : an introduction. A view of the building ; The Pentagon : realities and myths ; Pentagon truisms ; The strange language of the puzzle palace -- pt II. The key players. Where were you when the page was blank? The agony and ecstasy of the Action Officer ; Branch and Division Chiefs : a forgotten breed ; Flag Officers, senior civilian and political appointees : the need for leadership ; The Services ; The Joint Staff ; The Office of the Secretary of Defense ; The Interagency arena ; Working with defense contractors ; The Pentagon's constituents -- pt III. Running the Pentagon. The complex pattern of rivalry and competition ; Understanding the process (and keeping the gears turning) ; Operating in the tank : A view from the inner sanctum ; How to give and receive briefings in the Pentagon -- pt IV. Enjoying the tour. Rules of thumb : helpful hints on how to get ready to work, survive, and thrive ; Difficult bosses ; Military ethics in the Pentagon ; The heartbreak of house hunting ; Family, cultural, academic, and job opportunities ; Conclusions -- Appendix A : Recommended references -- Appendix B : Transition into the Pentagon checklist -- Appendix C : Interviewing -- Appendix D : Glossary Appendix E : Department of Defense