I am a draftsman, painter and printmaker. This first person statement is a written extension of the art that constitutes my thesis. It discusses the links between my work and the Enlightenment, Humanism, Catholicism, ethics and the Western canon as well as my use of perspective and other classical techniques in relation to history, language, high art, popular culture, propaganda, contemporary upheavals, Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism, globalization and the digital revolution. Furthermore, the main arguments draw upon my Cuban origin and European ancestry, the Cuban Revolution, my Belgian early education and eventual American hybrid identity. The overriding theme, however, concerns the continuing relevance of drawing, high art and history. As such, it forms a personal art theory and critique of contemporary culture. Supporting sources include history, art history, art theory, philosophy, science, religion and politics.

The military has an important role in peace and development work. Having skilled, experienced and knowledgeable personnel on peace-promoting missions abroad is crucial to ensure the missions success. A consequence of attrition is that military organizations lose valuable skills, experiences and qualities of service members. Preventing attrition is essential to maintain readiness, morale and knowledge. It also has a positive impact on peacekeeping missions, humanitarian relief and interactions with civil society. Current research on attrition has focused on early attrition; separation that occurs before a full term of service. It has focused on pre-enlistment factors of individuals that would make them less suitable to remain in the military. Current research has looked at attrition among all branches of the United States military. The focus of this thesis is to identify the main reasons for attrition among enlisted United States Marines. Focus is on the effect dissatisfaction of service and civilian opportunities has on attrition. It will also identify areas in need of improvement to prevent attrition. This research is a qualitative field study taken with an abductive approach. The main method of data collection was in-depth semi-structured interviews with active and retired U.S Marines, on site in North Carolina. The theory used to analyze the results is the Rational Choice-Theory, an individualistic theory that focus on individual’s actions and the values and beliefs shaping the action. Dissatisfaction because of bad leadership, military structures, long days of work and lack of motivation affected attrition. Civilian opportunities such as college and spending more time with family also played a part in the decision-making regarding reenlistment. Among the Marines, dissatisfaction arising from long-term issues was the factor that affected attrition the most. Civilian opportunities were in some cases the last pull needed to leave service. The findings can assist in making changes that will have a positive effect on the Marines. It can encourage Marines to pursue a longer military career, and hence keep valuable skills and experiences. These Marines can then continue to do important work within the peace and development field.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether the post-deployment screening instrument currently utilized to assess active-duty Marines for symptoms of PTSD upon their return from a combat deployment can be solely relied upon to accurately assess for PTSD. Additionally, this study sought to compare the number of Marines who have sought trauma-related mental health treatment based on their answers on the Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) to the number who have sought trauma-related mental health treatment based on their answers on their PTSD Checklist - Military Version (PCL-M). The participants in this study were comprised of a sample of active-duty Marines that had recently returned from a combat deployment. A quantitative secondary data analysis used Item Response Theory (IRT) to examine the answers provided by the participants on both the PDHA and PCL-M. Both instruments proved to be effective when assessing symptoms of PTSD and the participants identified as having symptoms of PTSD were referred for mental health services as required. According to the results, more Marines were identified as having symptoms of PTSD using both assessment instruments (PDHA and PCL-M) compared to those identified using just the PDHA. The result was a better understanding of predictors of Marines who may later develop PTSD. The results of this study can also assist the Marine Corps with its post-deployment screening for symptoms of PTSD which in turn can provide appropriate mental health referrals for Marines if deemed appropriate.

En Irak et en Afghanistan, les Américains croyaient pouvoir appliquer le modèle du stand off (tir de sécurité à distance), une « culture du ciblage » conçu contre un ennemi perçu comme un ensemble de cibles dépourvues d'intelligence à détruire. Suite à ces demi-résultats de succès tactique et d'échecs stratégiques, l'Amérique se retrouve piégée, incapable d'engendrer un ordre nouveau fidèle à ses ambitions de départ: l'Irak est occupé sans être contrôlé. Le fantasme de conduire une guerre sans s'y engager se voit donc lourdement ébranlé, on doit se rendre à l'évidence: l'autre aussi est intelligent. Cette nouvelle réalité amène son flot de re-conceptualisation des définitions classiques de termes comme Guerre, Champ de Bataille, Puissance, Victoire et Ennemis. L'objectif de ce mémoire est d'expliquer les mauvaises décisions stratégiques qui ont été prises au tout début de l'occupation irakienne tout en essayant de comprendre pourquoi il y a eu un changement de cap en cours de route. Pour ce faire, nous allons examiner comment les stratégies (et les organisations) militaires employées sur le terrain pouvaient « construire » des comportements aux effets négatifs ou positifs à l'égard de la population irakienne. En outre, le succès ou l'échec d'une armée d'occupation dépendra en grande partie de sa capacité à se légitimer auprès des populations locales et à isoler les groupes armés résistants, rebelles ou insurgés. Cette capacité, nous allons soutenir que les Fusiliers Marins des États-Unis (USMC-US Marine Corp's) la possèdent. Ceux-ci donnent un exemple d'adaptation organisationnelle et de versatilité tactique à l'ère des conflits décentralisés. En effet, d'une bande désorganisée s'apparentant presque à des bandits de grand chemin qu'ils étaient à l'origine, les Marines, forgés par leur indépendance face au danger, par leur obsession de demeurer les meilleurs et leur paranoïa face à la possibilité omniprésente de perdre ce prestigieux titre, sont devenus la force d'élite de la plus puissante des armées. Ceci fait qu'ils sont arrivés en Irak en ayant une philosophie différente de celle partagée par leurs confrères des autres services. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : États-Unis, Irak, Organisations militaires, Culture stratégique, Culture organisationnelle.

Upon consultation with NPS faculty, the School has determined that this thesis may be released to the public, its distribution is unlimited effective August 25, 2011. / One result of the break-up of the Soviet Union is that the DOD has been forced to reevaluate the roles of each of the Armed Services based on the declining resource pool. From the Marine Corps' evaluation of itself came the Combined Arms Regiment (CAR) concept. The objective of this study was to develop an estimate of the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of the two possible vehicles used with the CAR and the CAR's components. Standard cost factors are used to cost out the various organizations involved. Two supporting analyses done in this study are: an evaluation of the Marine Corps' role in national security and how the CAR could be used to support that security role, and a comparison of the vehicle option operating characteristics which was done to enrich the dimensions under which the CAR could be evaluated. The results of the study are a tool which can help Marine Corps planners make more informed decisions in regards to the CAR concept. The final conclusion, based on the assumption that any CAR would act as a follow-on element of the MAGTF, was that although the CAR(LAV) was a workable option, the CAR using upgraded AAVs was the better, more cost effective option.

Thesis (Master').

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Feb 1, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Feb 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Jan 12, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Jan 5, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.