Chosen Soldier by Dick Couch

I have started reading Dick Couch's new book about Special Forces or the Green Berets. It's a great glimpse into the making of Green Berets, our soldiers who are like the Peace Corps but with guns. Dick is a former Navy SEAL and CIA case officer who stands in awe of the men who become SF. He emphasizes that what makes SF so invaluable is their role as teachers. They are truly expert generalists who master many trades. The most valuable asset these warriors possess is their ability to get along with each other and those from diverse cultures. Men who know what to do when there is no one to tell them what to do. Men who know how to use the pen but can use the sword when it is required and with lethal effect.

Every soldier who contemplates becoming a Green Beret needs to read this book as it would save them and the Army a lot of time-maybe some won't apply now once they see the training. Wonder what effect this book will have on SF recruiting? It paints a challenging picture of the mental and physical challenges faced by SF candidates. A long evaluation and screening process has me asking, "are we there yet?" Can you imagine running a marathon and then sleeping for four hours, doing it in the rain in near freezing weather, and then getting up and having to plan and execute a raid and sustaining that cycle for five straight days??? The thing about this training is that the SF cadre or staff is there with the candidates 7/24 too. Makes you wonder if deploying overseas and facing combat might actually be a relief from the rigorous training they conduct.

My son is a sergeant in the infantry and on his second tour in Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division-a soldier of the surge. He has often talked about the professionalism of the Green Berets with whom he has interacted and considered putting in a package. Now he knows what to expect thanks to Dick Couch. I'll be sending him a copy with his CARE package next mail call.