While books on military psychology are still hard to find, most of them understandably cover topics related to soldiering in volatile, uncertain complex and ambiguous environments. This book Cadet Diary:  Psychology of Warrior Ethos and Cadet Leadership Development is unique in the sense that it gives an insight into soldiers in the making – officer cadets as future leaders of men and women dealing with the complexities of modern warfare.

Written by military psychologists who have served/are serving in military cadet training institutions from all over the world, the book offers us a better understanding of various concepts of officer cadet development, be it in context of predicted and tested competencies of leadership qualities, resilience as a desirable trait among those aspiring to become officer cadets and future leaders of men and women in uniform or facilitating and developing leaders as lifelong learners.

The book explores psychological perspectives of various leadership traits and competencies that a cadet would need to quickly acquire before he transitions into taking on responsibilities as an officer, it scrutinizes interesting topics which include the critical role of decision-making in non-linear, asymmetric warfare and makes a case for moving beyond just strength, stamina and endurance and seeks to focus on building intellectual capital for cadets during their formative years of military training. Other interesting themes cover concepts to include developing warrior principles, motivation, importance of communication, tacit knowledge, team dynamics, characteristics associated with officer development and its relation to military leadership as well as some conditions for officer development.

1. Facilitating and Developing Leaders at Royal Military College of Canada as Lifelong Learners? / Carl G.A. Jacob and Daniel Lagacé-Roy

2. Motivation for Physical Activity and Aspects of Health and Satisfaction / Suzana Filjak, Jakov Karin and Ivana Šćuri

3. Holistic Health and Well-being for Optimal Officer Cadet Development / Samir Rawat

4. Resilience among CadetsS A Comparative Study with College Students in India / Gunjan Singh

5. Decision-Making in Non-Linear, Asymmetric Warfare: What they don’t Teach you at ‘The Academy’ / Samir Rawat

6. Testing Potential Competencies with Predicted Competencies during Selection for Military Training Leadership Qualities: Do you have it in you? / Samir Rawat

7. Transitioning from a Cadet to a Professional Officer A Psychological Perspective to Leadership Traits  and Competencies / Samir Rawat

8. Enhancing Officer Cadet Intellect in Military Training Institutions : An Organizational Approach / Samir Rawat

9. Warrior’s Principle is to Defend and Not to Attack: Warrior Ethos and Leadership Development for Cadets in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) / Ilfira Temirbulatova

10. Officer Development at the Norwegian Military Academy / Ole Boe

11. Command and Control Aspects of Operational Leadership: The Role and Effects of Communication in Creating Operative Ability / Torill Holth and Ole Boe

12. Tacit Knowledge and Full Range Leadership in Military Context: Explanatory Models of Leaders ‘Know’ and Exercise Leadership / António José Palma Esteves Rosinha

13. Team Leadership and Shared Leadership: An Integrated View / António José Palma Esteves Rosinha, Marcos Aguiar de Souza, Rodolfo de Castro Ribas Junior, Maria Manuela Sarmento Coelho and Hermes de Andrade Júnior

14. Leadership Development at a Military Service Academy: The 47 Month Plan / Aram Donigian, Douglas Lindsay and Steven Samuels

15. Leader and Leadership Development in the United States Air Force / Rodric Smith and Douglas Lindsay

16. A New Approach to Leadership Education: Creating an Intentional, Integrated, Leadership Learning Experience / Steven Samuels, Douglas Lindsay, Gary Packard and Richard Ramsey

17. How to Influence Cadet Motivation: A Case Study in Research / Christopher McClernon, Douglas Lindsay, Camilo Guerrero and Chad Tossell

Lt Col Dr Samir Rawat is a cognitive-behavioural trainer who uses an eclectic approach in teaching soft skills related to leadership and personality development, behaviour modification and counselling, besides conducting faculty development and training of trainers (TOT) for academic, military and corporate institutions. He is a psychologist and facilitator with extensive experience in strengthening intrapersonal and interpersonal skills among individuals and teams.

Dr Rawat has presented scores of psychology and human resource management papers in national and  international conferences. He has contributed extensively to military and academic journals of repute. His other published books are Military Psychology: International Perspectives, Military Psychology and Leadership Development and Stress and Resilience in the Military.

He has taught a diverse group of population ranging from police, military recruits, cadets, religious teachers, young officers from Armed Forces, civil services, commanding officers in Army and Admirals and their spouses in the Navy, Paramilitary Forces, Special Forces and psychologists as well as officers in friendly foreign countries.

With his solid, enriching experience of having served the nation in uniform, 

Dr Rawat truly exemplifies the military philosophy of inspirational leadership through idealized influence. In a short span, this book has found its way as a textbook in National Defence Academies (NDA) and military training institutions in quite a few countries.