The papers in this volume are those presented at the Air Force Academy on September 30 and October 1, 1976. They are arranged into four sections: '"The Frontier and American Military Tradition," "Comparison of Military Frontiers," "Impact of the Military on the Frontier," and "Military Life on the Frontier." Papers in the first two sections address the broad sweep of the military experience on the frontier. These papers help provide perspective and conceptual framework within which to fit the more specific studies in the third and fourth sections. The fifth section, "The Seventh Military History Symposium in Perspective" includes the reactions and commentary of three leading military historians. With a few exceptions the papers and commentary in this volume are presented in the order in which they were delivered at the symposium. The Military History Symposium series began in 1677 as an annual event sponsored by the USAF Academy and the Association of Graduates. Since 1970, the symposia have been held biennially. The purpose of the series is to provide a forum for scholars in military history and related fields, thereby promoting an exchange of ideas and information between scholars and military professionals, another link between thought and application in military affairs.