Military History Club

By FORREST ZENG

12 students sit in the evening dark of Room 127 of the Academy Building, On the screen, two battle diagrams appear. Both show a birds-eye view of military incursions into the Russian territory of Kursk. But, as prep Ian Koo explains, one shows Ukraine’s unexpected push into Russian territory earlier this year, and another, Nazi Germany’s advances into the Soviet Union at the 1943 Battle of Kursk. 

“The club is the peak of my Monday nights,” Koo said.

Military History Club (MHC) is a club dedicated to exploring history through the lens of the military. From the innovative tactics of drone operators in the modern Russo-Ukrainian War to the different kinds of helmets that medieval soldiers used in the Crusades, the club is dedicated to a concentrated yet wide-ranging academic niche. It meets on Mondays at 7 P.M., in Room 127 of the Academy building.

Military History Club is entirely new this year, but the topic that it covers is anything but new. For many of the co-heads, military history was their personal introduction to history in general. Upper and co-head Neal Veeranna described, “Military history was the opening for us that led into history. I was never a big fan of history until I started learning about military history. And that led me down the rabbit hole of history in general. The goal of this club is to express this love to other people.”

Upper and co-head Jeremy Francis agreed. He emphasized the uniqueness of the club, saying, “This is something that few people are truly and deeply interested in. It’s spectacular that so many of them choose to take an hour of the day to come to this room and discuss military history.”

The club is a new opportunity for students with pre-existing interests in military history. Veeranna noted the prevailing interest in such a niche topic among the student body, and characterized the club as a space for those students to express themselves. “It’s a time for us to hang out and talk about a topic that we’re deeply interested in,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s also a chance for new people who never had an opportunity to truly discuss military history. It’s meaningful for us as co-heads and all new students, that we provide a separate space to study this important topic.”

So far, the club has coalesced well. Francis noted the relaxed atmosphere at each meeting. “It’s what we wanted—pretty relaxed,” he said. “You come in, joke around, maybe get to know some people. It’s a very safe, welcoming, and relaxed environment.”

Because of its uniqueness, the club sees attendance from long-time enthusiasts to curious students. Veeranna praised this diversity, stating, “We have a good mixture of veterans and new students in this club. It helps to have that mixture because they can bond and connect.”

Francis agreed. “I’m very grateful for new people because they ask important questions. And the fact that people are asking questions, even if they are basic, is phenomenal because it means that they feel safe. There are no hard feelings.”

Upper and co-head Joseph Kim elaborated on the broad range of topics that the club covers. “We see a great diversity in what area of military history attendees are interested in,” he described. “Whether it be land, air, and sea—perhaps even cyberwarfare. They’re also interested in different time periods. Some people are entirely interested in the Napoleonic Wars or perhaps World War II.”

He continued. “And finally, what is most important is the difference in people’s approaches to military history. Some people think of warfare in terms of tactics, while others think of it in terms of machinery, politics, and economics. All that diversity makes military history significant.”

Upper and co-head Christian Salaun is looking forward to seeing the community become more involved. “We recently had a new member make a presentation for us, and we had a full-fledged discussion. We love to see members make presentations and inform people about what they know—because this club, at its core, is having people unlock their passion for military history, and explore something that they weren’t able to previously.”

The club is wholly dedicated to its constituent interests. “We’re not really in the driver’s seat per se,” Francis said. “This is more about letting other people come in and explore their interests.”

Kim concluded, “I invite people who have not joined the club yet, to have a taste of military history. For me, military history brought me into history, and that brought me into a whole new world of studies. So try military history—even if it’s for a little bit—and you might be drawn to it.”