The Frontline Generation: How We Served Post 9/11

"The leadership lessons learned in combat apply here at home: take care of the people to your left and to your right. You are the frontlines--no matter where or how you serve." It began as a personal memoir for her son. Reflecting one day on her ten years of post 9/11 military service, Marjorie K. Eastman wanted to capture the lessons and inspiration she'd learned serving beside men and women who represent the very best of what it means to be American: dedication to a job well done, selflessness, character, and a belief that one person can make a difference. And these servicemen and women represent just 1 percent of the American public. Eastman identifies this group as the Frontline Generation and notes it is an untapped reservoir of leaders--now back in our communities--who have been strengthened by the unique difficulties of post 9/11 service. The compelling journey of Eastman's time in uniform culminates in her final assignment, when she was responsible for the lives of over 100 troops--men and women--scattered throughout Eastern Afghanistan. Her first-person account of that time is a moving story from personal commitment to the conviction that service--no matter where or how--is the best path to success. She offers lessons on life, leadership, service, and the way for every person to find a role in them. Those stories are here. And Eastman's journal entries further reveal frustrations, inspiration, joy, heartbreak, laughter, purpose, resolve, and the remarkable ways service members came together to solve problems and break boundaries well beyond the heartbreaking day of 9/11. She defines the legacy her Frontline Generation leaves on this country, and encourages readers to think about who they want to be, how they can make a difference, how they can make their lives count. Service is the key. The Frontline Generation abounds with wisdom, strength, compassion, and humor.

About the Author :
Born and raised in Southern California, Marjorie K. Eastman earned her bachelor's degree in political science at the University of California, San Diego. As an undergraduate, she was selected as a White House intern and also studied abroad at the University College London, School for Slavonic and East European Studies. She attended the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, where she earned her master's degree in International Security, with concentrations in homeland security, intelligence, and human rights. She was selected for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Honors Internship Program and has an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University.Eastman served as a United States Army Intelligence Officer and Commander for ten years, including two combat deployments, one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the other in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. She was ranked the number one military intelligence company commander in Eastern Afghanistan for the deployment cycle of 2009-2010, awarded the Bronze Star, and received the Combat Action Badge. Eastman is also a spouse of a soldier; she and her husband, Charles, live in North Carolina with their son, Henk.

Review :
It began as a personal memoir for her son. Reflecting on ten years of post 9/11 military service and two combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Marjorie K. Eastman realized she was capturing more than lessons and inspiration. Eastman shines a spotlight on the 1 percent of our society who served in the military after 9/11, those who were alongside her that left an indelible mark on not only her heart, but also on our nation's history. She defines the legacy her generation-the Frontline Generation-leaves on this country, and encourages readers to think about who they want to be, how they can make a difference, how they can make their lives count. Service is the key. "The 1 percent is commonly used to describe the wealthiest people. The discussion around that term is typically about the growing wealth gap between America's elite and the rest of the country. But what if we have that all wrong? What if you were told that the greatest value you could add to your life was not monetary? And what if, especially as a nation, we should be most concerned about the service gap? This generation has an untapped reservoir of leaders in our communities who have been strengthened by the unique difficulties of post 9/11 service." Eastman's first-person account of post 9/11 service reveals how to find your conviction and leave a trail. The culmination of her time in uniform is a moving journey, only to be topped by the gripping obstacles that were overcome in her final assignment when she was responsible for the lives of over 100 troops scattered throughout Eastern Afghanistan. Rarely do you find a book that offers lessons on life, leadership, service, and the role of men and women in all of it. Eastman speaks with wisdom, compassion, and humor; she quotes from her journal, which offers a personal lens, and ties lessons to key concepts. Her stories ring true. The Frontline Generation will win the hearts and minds of every generation. This gift to her son is a powerful reminder to all of us how service is a force that gives us meaning. It unites us, and can make us leaders.