Command & Staff College

The concept of combined arms, expanded to include both kinetic and non-kinetic effects, remains the key to success on the modern battlefield.

~CSC Recurring Themes AY12

MMS Checklist - 10 Easy Steps to Researching Your MMS Topic

1. Prepare: Have a research logbook ready to record where you find resources

2. Review the Literature: Start with books and e-books in the library catalog.  

Tip: This is a great way to begin a literature review. Also, see the section on Research of the MCU Style Guide.

• Find the subject heading for your topic in the library catalog:
   
• Example: Try Afghanistan as a Keyword search and then find appropriate subject headings in a book record.
   
• Example: Know a book title that fits your idea? Find it & then see the subject headings for more.
   
• Example: Learning to eat soup with a knife : counterinsurgency lessons from Malaya and Vietnam. This book record shows these subject headings listed below the summary:

Malaya -- History -- Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960

Counterinsurgency -- Malaysia -- Malaya

Great Britain. Army -- History -- Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960

Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Underground movements

Counterinsurgency -- Vietnam

United States. Army -- History -- Vietnam War, 1961-1975

• Use the bibliography from the book. See citations for related research.
   

3. Review the Databases: Go to the Databases link on Library Research Guide to find articles. 

• Start by choosing to search the most commonly used databases that cover military journals, news, and/or historical topics:
  • Proquest
  • Ebsco
  • Jane's
  • Lexis-Nexis
  • JStor
     

4. If you want an article but only have its citation, go to the Online Journals link on our research guide. Type in the journal title and you will see our holdings.
 

5. Check DTIC: Go to DTIC and conduct a Technical Reports search.

• Choose Technical Reports from the drop down menu of the search box.
• Find a student paper that closely matches your topic and look at the bibliography.
   

6. Check MiPALs: Go to MiPALs (Military Policy Awareness Links)

•  MiPALs gives access to key U.S. policy statements on the country or topic of the MiPAL.
   

7. Check Government Sources: HSDL, GAO, and CRS Reports:

• Homeland Security Digital Library is linked on Blackboard and the CSC Research Guide
   
• Go to GAO.gov and search via topic list or keyword
   
• CRS reports can be found in the database Congressional Publications which is linked through the library’s Blackboard page and CSC Research Guide
   

8. Go to the MCU Library Marine Corps Topics of Interest Site

Choose from a variety of subjects there.

• TIP: Lessons Learned Sites are a wealth of primary source information
• Use primary service LL Site, submit an RFI (request for information) and let them do the work for you
• Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned
• Center for Army Lessons Learned
• Air University
   

9. Primary Sources: Use Archives/AVIR and Historical Division (HD)

• From individuals, battles, units or command chronologies, Archives and HD have what you need. Visit them both to submit RFI’s as soon as possible.
  • A word about collection differences:
    • Archives: Has After Action Reports, Command Chronologies, Tables of Organization, Personal Papers etc.
    • HD: Unit diaries, casualty cards & subject files.
    • AVIR: All historical audio visual material for the Marine Corps
       

10. Interviews:

• Don’t forget to conduct interviews and get primary source material from colleagues. And yes, that may mean you are the primary source
• Tip: Use the How to Do an Interview guide to prepare in advance.