On Killing Remotely, Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Phelps
On Killing Remotely, Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Phelps
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On Killing Remotely
The Psychology of Killing with Drones

Author: Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Phelps

Narrator: Matt Kugler

Unabridged: 12 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/08/2021

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

A “can’t-miss for anyone interested in current military affairs,” On Killing Remotely reveals and explores the costs—to individual soldiers and to society—of the way we wage war today (Kirkus Reviews, starred). 

Throughout history society has determined specific rules of engagement between adversaries in armed conflict.  With advances in technology, from armor to in the Middle Ages to nerve gas in World War I to weapons of mass destruction in our own time, the rules have constantly evolved.  Today, when killing the enemy can seem palpably risk-free and tantamount to playing a violent video game, what constitutes warfare?  What is the effect of remote combat on individual soldiers?  And what are the unforeseen repercussions that could affect us all?  
Lt Col Wayne Phelps, former commander of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft unit, addresses these questions and many others as he tells the story of the men and women of today’s “chair force.”  Exploring the ethics of remote military engagement, the misconceptions about PTSD among RPA operators, and the specter of military weaponry controlled by robots, his book is an urgent and compelling reminder that it should always be difficult to kill another human being lest we risk losing what makes us human.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kevin on December 07, 2022

Pretty mixed on this one, looking back. On one hand, I appreciate that the author did a fairly large survey of the men and women operating the RPAs, and went into detail about all facets of the psychological experience. It gave me a much better understanding of the potential trauma faced, how draini......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on February 17, 2023

2.5 ⭐️ the writing was redundant and a severe misunderstanding of why some might have issues with the military on top of giving far more credit to the general publics awareness of RPA programs. The last quarter of the book was difficult to get through.......more

Goodreads review by Ailish on January 03, 2024

This was a very interesting read. The discussion of RPAs and the social clout(or lack there of) that exists in different military communities was fascinating. Specifically the friction points where RPA operators deal with the trauma of being at war while also being located in the US. And how they ar......more

Goodreads review by Patrick on November 12, 2022

Very interesting insight and take on RPA warfare. My only gripe was how often points and information were repeated; some straight forward concepts were explained ad nauseam.......more

Goodreads review by Christine on September 17, 2021

I started reading this book with no expectations. It is a powerful, thought-provoking, highly relevant and well-written book regarding all aspects and issues of the military use of drones and remote killing. I could not put it down, except for times when I just had to settle down and really consider......more

Quotes

“An essential read…We have crossed a new frontier in the age-old story of war.”—P. W. Singer, author of Wired for War and Ghost Fleet

“The most impressive and comprehensive account of 21st-century remote air warfare…A mesmerizing read: I was gripped from the first page to the last.”—Professor Peter Lee, author of Reaper Force

“A crucial 360° look at how remote warfare affects the crews fighting from afar.”—Major Scott Swanson, USAF (retired)

“Phelps pulls back the curtain on the high-demand RPA force…An insightful look at a uniquely gifted community of warriors.”—Lt. General Robert F. Hedelund, USMC

“The psychology of RPA combat is as secretive as the airframes themselves—remote, mysterious, and hard to find… This book should be required reading for all warriors.”—Karen House, MA, MSW, LMSW, LPC

“Phelps brings a crucial voice of analytical nuance…Insightful and thought-provoking.”
 —Ian MacLeod, former co-chair of the International Panel on the Regulation of Autonomous Weapons

“A seminal work in understanding the toll that killing remotely takes on the people who operate and support lethal remotely piloted aircraft.”—Major General James Poss, USAF (retired)

“An extraordinary achievement…Destined to become a classic.”—Mitt Regan, Georgetown University Law Center

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