Former Virginia U.S. Senator Jim Webb wrote a great deal about military institutions and how they affect society. He examined the goals and instructional strategies of military academies such as West Point in one of his works. From Webb's point of view, these establishments teach a deeper skill than just combat skills to aspiring soldiers.

Consider an assembly line in a factory that produces machines built for precise work without hesitation. The "machines" in this figurative assembly line are young cadets undergoing intense training to become military officers. The goal of this training is to develop people who can follow instructions quickly and with complete certainty, not just to learn how to use weapons or fight.

Webb contends that even in life-threatening circumstances, these academies train cadets to react to orders quickly and instinctively. Maintaining order and carrying out intricate military operations effectively depend on this reflexive obedience. On the other hand, the training also equips these young men (and women) for leadership positions where they may eventually issue such directives.

This viewpoint reveals a deeper comprehension of military academies that goes beyond their apparent function of preparing soldiers for combat. It implies that future leaders who will make crucial choices impacting not only the battlefield but also more general national security policies and strategies are largely shaped by these institutions.

Jim Webb himself is a Vietnam War veteran, having commanded a Marine Corps platoon during the conflict. His understanding of military culture and its effects on society is shaped by his own experiences. He frequently criticizes the ways in which these establishments mold people's moral compass and capacity for moral decision-making under duress.

Essentially, Webb's observations on military academies speak to the more general issues of decision-making, leadership, and obedience in the military. It challenges readers to think about the psychological and societal ramifications of war in addition to its technical aspects.