Date With History: A Discussion on Counterinsurgency

The First Division Museum at Cantigny invites the public to a free lecture by Colonel Gian P. Gentile on Wednesday, May 4, at 7:30 pm.

This is the second of three evening programs at the museum devoted to counterinsurgency, or COIN.  Col. Gentile is critical of this war strategy, believing the Army’s focus on COIN will result in the loss of traditional fighting skills.  Attendees should find his remarks interesting and thought provoking.

Col. Gentile is a visiting fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.  He was most recently the director of the military history program at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Col. Gentile has held command and staff positions in the United States, Germany and Korea.  In 2003 and 2006, he served in Iraq.  In 2003, he was a Brigade Combat Team Executive Officer in the 4^th Infantry Division in Tikrit.  In 2006, he commanded a Cavalry Squadron in the 4^th Infantry Division in west Baghdad.

Col. Gentile received a BA in history from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1986 and was commissioned through ROTC as second lieutenant of Armor.  He is a graduate of the Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies and holds a doctorate in history from Stanford University.

Doors open at 6:45 pm on May 4.  Admission and parking are complimentary.  For more information, call 630.260.8227.

The event is part of the First Division Museum’s popular series, A Date with History.  The monthly programs feature an evening of lively discussion with authors, panelists, historians and special speakers.  Information about upcoming programs is online atFirstDivisionMuseum.org.