20 Best Books About Special Forces (2023 Update)

They are sent to the world's hot spots-on covert missions fraught with danger. they are called on to perform at the peak of their physical and mental capabilities, primed for combat and surveillance, yet ready to pitch in with disaster relief operations. they are the army's special forces groups. now follow tom clancy as he delves into the training and tools, missions and mindset of these elite operatives. – special forces includes:the making of special forces personnel: recruitment and training – a rare look at actual special forces group deployment exercises – tools of the trade: weapons, communications and sensor equipment, survival gear – roles and missions: a mini-novel illustrates a probable scenario of special forces intervention – exclusive photographs, illustrations and diagrams – plus: an interview with general hugh shelton, usa, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff (and the former commander-in-chief of the u.s. special operations command-ussocom)

In this instant new york times bestseller, the celebrated author of make your bed shares amazing adventure stories from his career as a navy seal and commander of america's special operations forces.admiral william h. mcraven is a part of american military history, having been involved in some of the most famous missions in recent memory, including the capture of saddam hussein, the rescue of captain richard phillips, and the raid to kill osama bin laden.sea stories begins in 1960 at the american officers' club in france, where allied officers and their wives gathered to have drinks and tell stories about their adventures during world war ii — the place where a young bill mcraven learned the value of a good story. sea stories is an unforgettable look back on one man's incredible life, from childhood days sneaking into high-security military sites to a day job of hunting terrorists and rescuing hostages.action-packed, inspiring, and full of thrilling stories from life in the special operations world, sea stories is a remarkable memoir from one of america's most accomplished leaders.

An unprecedented view of green beret training, drawn from the year dick couch spent at special forces training facilities with the army’s most elite soldiers.in combating terror, america can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. chosen soldier paints a vivid portrait of an elite group, and a process that forges america’s smartest, most versatile, and most valuable fighting force.

What does it take, both physically and mentally, to join the world's most respected—and feared—military units? lewis looks at the origins, training, tactics, weapons, and achievements of regiments such as britain's sas and paratroopers, the us navy seals, delta force, army rangers and green berets, russia's spetsnaz, and the israeli special forces, as well as the codes that bind their members together. he looks at training in everything from wilderness survival to hand-to-hand combat.

Written by an outstanding team of distinguished active and retired special operations officers, historians, and experts, this in-depth book surveys america's elite forces. from roger's rangers in revolutionary times to the underwater demolition teams of wwii to contemporary specialised commands in the war against terrorism, us special operations forces explores both individual and collective achievements. hundreds of vintage and recent photographs, maps, and historically inspired paintings complement the text, and a unique medallion-inlaid cover make it both a riveting history and a cherished keepsake.

Created by a world leader in modern special forces with access to some of the most secretive elite units, this book provides a fascinating overview of special forces units around the world, including the sas and delta force.using stunning photographs from around the world, including some previously unpublished, the elite: the a-z of modern special operations forces is the ultimate guide to the secretive world of modern special forces. it sends the reader back in time to operations such as eagle claw in iran and the recapture of the iranian embassy in london and then forward to recent operations against al shabaab and islamic state. entries also detail units ranging from the new zealand sas group to the polish grom, and key individuals from iraq counter-terrorism strategist general stanley mcchrystal to victoria cross recipient sasr corporal mark donaldson. answering questions such as how much the latest four-tube night vision goggles worn by the seals in zero dark thirty cost, what types of parachutes are used to covertly parachute into a target location, and if special forces still use halo jumps, this book is the definitive single-source guide to the world's elite special forces.

President george w. bush has told all americans that the war against terrorism would be like no other war. but what does this mean? who will fight? how will they fight? what weapons will be used? most informed commentators agree that the war against terrorism will be fought largely by "special forces"—that is, by a relatively new community within the american military known as special operations forces, or sof's. this new "branch" of the armed forces was created in the mid–1980s and is organized under its own unified command, called u.s. consisting of special units from the other branches of the armed forces, such as green berets, rangers, seals, and delta force, this new fighting command is recognized internationally as the most well-trained and well-equipped special operations force in the world. their missions are varied—including combat terrorism, search and rescue, reconnaissance, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping duty, and conventional and unconventional warfare.despite special forces' international reputation for excellence, americans know little about this remarkable fighting force. special forces provides a handy and comprehensive compendium, including descriptions of the units and their operational specialties, training, and organization, as well as the equipment and technological gadgetry, weapons, armor, planes, helicopters, and support vehicles used by each unit.

"you are a soldier in the u.s. military's elite special forces. you have the strength, intelligence, and specialized training to perform the most dangerous, top-secret military missions. will you: serve as an army green beret working to save a group of hostages from a desperate band of terrorists? or be an army ranger planning to seize control of an airstrip deep in enemy territory? or join with a group of fellow navy seals to capture a terrorist leader from his hiding place? experience the life-or-death dilemmas of an elite military job. you choose what you'll do next. the choices you make will either lead you to safety—or to doom."

An analysis of u.s. special operations, at the center of america's twenty-first-century wars "grey wars is for anyone who wants to understand today's fights. collins has done a great service by providing a well-sourced, clear, and insightful look into the missions and activities of u.s. special operators. highly recommend."–mike thornton, usn seal (ret.), congressional medal of honor, and co-author, by honor bound "fascinating and deeply researched, covering the defining moments in modern special operations; grey wars is a must-read for anyone interested in the post 9/11 world."–admiral william h. mcraven, usn (ret.), ninth commander of the u.s. special operations command this original and accessible book is a comprehensive, authoritative analysis of u.s. special operations command trains and equips units to undertake select military activities, frequently high-risk missions, often for the purposes of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. this fight–neither hot war nor cold peace–was launched and executed as a new type of global war in 2001 and has since splintered into a spectrum of regional conflicts. the result is our nation's grey wars: hazy and lethal. this contemporary history, incorporating extensive interviews and archival research by security studies expert n. collins, delves deeply into the transformation of these forces since 9/11.

Their mission: to take out the scuds. eight went out. five came back. their story had been closed in secrecy. until now. they were british special forces, trained to be the best. in january 1991 a squad of eight men went behind the iraqi lines on a top secret mission. it was called bravo two zero. on command was sergeant andy mcnab. "they are the true unsung heroes of the war." — lt. col. steven turner, american f-15e commander. dropped into "scud alley" carrying 210-pound packs, mcnab and his men found themselves surrounded by saddam's army. their radios didn't work. the weather turned cold enough to freeze diesel fuel. and they had been spotted. their only chance at survival was to fight their way to the syrian border seventy-five miles to the northwest and swim the euphrates river to freedom. eight set out. five came back. "i'll tell you who destroyed the scuds — it was the british sas. they were fabulous." — john major, british prime minister. this is their story. filled with no-holds-barred detail about mcnab's capture and excruciating torture, it tells of men tested beyond the limits of human endurance… and of the war you didn't see on cnn. dirty, deadly, and fought outside the rules.

The unforgettable account and courageous actions of the u.s. army's 240th assault helicopter company and green beret staff sergeant roy benavidez, who risked everything to rescue a special forces team trapped behind enemy lines. – in legend, acclaimed bestselling author eric blehm takes as his canvas the vietnam war, as seen through a single mission that occurred on may 2, 1968. a twelve-man special forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral cambodia—where u.s. forces were forbidden to operate. their objective, just miles over the vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the north vietnamese army was using the cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the ho chi minh trail. what the team didn't know was that they had infiltrated a section of jungle that concealed a major enemy base. soon they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of nva, under attack, low on ammunition, stacking the bodies of the dead as cover in a desperate attempt to survive the onslaught. – when special forces staff sergeant roy benavidez heard the distress call, he jumped aboard the next helicopter bound for the combat zone without hesitation. orphaned at the age of seven, benavidez had picked cotton alongside his family as a child and dropped out of school as a teen before joining the army. although he was grievously wounded during his first tour of duty in vietnam and told he would never walk again, benavidez fought his way back—ultimately earning his green beret. – what followed would become legend in the special operations community. flown into the foray of battle by the courageous pilots and crew of the 240th assault helicopter company, benavidez jumped from the hovering aircraft, and ran nearly 100 yards through withering enemy fire. despite being immediately and severely wounded, benavidez reached the perimeter of the decimated team, provided medical care, and proceeded to organize an extraordinary defense and rescue. during the hours-long battle, he was bayoneted, shot, and hit by grenade shrapnel more than thirty times, yet he refused to abandon his efforts until every survivor was out of harm's way. – written with extensive access to family members, surviving members of the 240th assault helicopter company, on-the-ground eye-witness accounts never before published, as well as recently discovered archival, and declassified military records, blehm has created a riveting narrative both of roy benavidez's life and career, and of the inspiring, almost unbelievable events that defined the brotherhood of the air and ground warriors in an unpopular war halfway around the world. – legend recounts the courage and commitment of those who fought in vietnam in service of their country, and the story of one of the many unsung heroes of the war, whose actions would be scrutinized for more than a decade in a battle for a long overdue, and what many believe was an unjustly denied, medal of honor. the case was reopened thirteen years later, in 1980, when a long lost—and believed dead—green beret eyewitness whom benavidez had rescued that day, came forth and wrote a statement that revealed, once and for all, what happened on that fateful day in may of 1968.

With a veteran green beret as your guide, go deep inside the grueling training that every special forces soldier must endure to become an elite fighting machine. with “a fresh, authentic voice” (publishers weekly), former special forces commander and current instructor tony schwalm takes readers deep inside the grueling training on the notorious q course, required for all special forces soldiers before they can join the elite green berets that defends our country in nontraditional operations.

This is the official medical guide from the us department of defense that army rangers, green berets, navy seals, and other military operators refer to when they are dealing with emergency medical situations—burns, broken bones, head injuries, and more.this edition of the special operations forces medical handbook is perfect and practical for active military forces, civilian first responders, and anyone who might find themselves in a life-and-death situation without easy access to medical care.over 100 comprehensive illustrations show the proper techniques for medical care, from basic first-aid and orthopedics to instructions for emergency war surgery and even veterinary medicine. questions are listed so that the medic can obtain an accurate patient history and perform a complete physical examination. diagnoses are made easier with information on the distinctive features of each illness.this straightforward manual is sure to assist any reader faced with a medical issue or emergency.

Stories of real-life bravery and courage-under-fire contribute to a unique and poignant record of a club created for heroes. there are just a handful of men and women alive today who served and fought with the special forces during the second world war. they are a dwindling bunch of veterans in their twilight years whose tales of heroism and daring-do will soon be lost in time forever – yet they still regularly get together in a gentleman’s club, right in the heart of london – the special forces club. in ten separate and astonishing accounts of ingenuity and heroism, former sunday telegraph defence correspondent sean rayment visits this unique group of people, and through their vivid memories, transports the reader back in time to the dark days of the second world war when britain was again fighting on multiple fronts across the globe.

Stories of real-life bravery and courage-under-fire contribute to a unique and poignant record of a club created for heroes. there are just a handful of men and women alive today who served and fought with the special forces during the second world war. they are a dwindling bunch of veterans in their twilight years whose tales of heroism and daring-do will soon be lost in time forever – yet they still regularly get together in a gentleman’s club, right in the heart of london – the special forces club. in ten separate and astonishing accounts of ingenuity and heroism, former sunday telegraph defence correspondent sean rayment visits this unique group of people, and through their vivid memories, transports the reader back in time to the dark days of the second world war when britain was again fighting on multiple fronts across the globe.

On april 6, 2003, twenty-six green berets, including those of sergeant 1st class frank anentori's special forces a-team (call sign roughneck nine one), led a violent battle against a vastly superior force at the remote crossroads near the village of debecka, iraq. in an already legendary conflict that will influence us army doctrine for years to come, the green berets stopped an enemy unit that included battle tanks and more than 150 well-trained, well-equipped, and well-commanded soldiers. any normal american light infantry unit finding itself outnumbered over five to one and outgunned on the ground by such a heavily armored force would have turned and run for cover. but green berets don't like to run and nine one don't run was antenori's team's motto from the very beginning. in a spectacular fight, they battled iraqi tanks and personnel until only a handful of iraqi survivors finally fled the battlefield.in the process, nine one encountered hordes of news media, and at the peak of the fight, a us navy f-14 dropped a 500-pound bomb in the middle of a group of supporting kurdish peshmerga fighters, killing and wounding dozens. this is the never-before-told, unsanitized, unedited story of the fight for the crossroads at debecka, iraq, and a unique inside look at a special forces a-team as it recruits and organizes, trains for combat, and eventually fights a battle against a huge opposing force in iraq.roughneck nine one is a powerful look inside a special forces a-team and its dramatic and controversial battle against a huge opposing force, and a revealing story of the role of special forces in the ongoing war in iraq.

On april 6, 2003, twenty-six green berets, including those of sergeant 1st class frank anentori's special forces a-team (call sign roughneck nine one), led a violent battle against a vastly superior force at the remote crossroads near the village of debecka, iraq. in an already legendary conflict that will influence us army doctrine for years to come, the green berets stopped an enemy unit that included battle tanks and more than 150 well-trained, well-equipped, and well-commanded soldiers. any normal american light infantry unit finding itself outnumbered over five to one and outgunned on the ground by such a heavily armored force would have turned and run for cover. but green berets don't like to run and nine one don't run was antenori's team's motto from the very beginning. in a spectacular fight, they battled iraqi tanks and personnel until only a handful of iraqi survivors finally fled the battlefield.in the process, nine one encountered hordes of news media, and at the peak of the fight, a us navy f-14 dropped a 500-pound bomb in the middle of a group of supporting kurdish peshmerga fighters, killing and wounding dozens. this is the never-before-told, unsanitized, unedited story of the fight for the crossroads at debecka, iraq, and a unique inside look at a special forces a-team as it recruits and organizes, trains for combat, and eventually fights a battle against a huge opposing force in iraq.roughneck nine one is a powerful look inside a special forces a-team and its dramatic and controversial battle against a huge opposing force, and a revealing story of the role of special forces in the ongoing war in iraq.

Legion dark ops has always been a unit shrouded in secrecy.tasked with performing covert missions, its kill teams are filled with the best warriors from within the ranks of the legion. kel turner is one of the youngest legionnaires ever to be selected to its ranks. after many battles and trials, he is faced with the greatest challenge of his life – operating by himself on a remote planet at the galaxy's edge, a foot soldier for the policies of the duplicitous house of reason, tasked with solving a crisis that would take ten kill teams to resolve. diplomats, spies, shadowy terrorist groups, and an enigmatic general work with and against kel as he fights to save a society from itself. what can one operator do alone, separated from his kill team, fighting a war that has no name? this lone operator doesn't know what it will take to win. he only knows he's not going to lose.u.s. army special operations veteran doc spears teams with anspach & cole on his debut novel, a thrilling new military science fiction series that captures the drive, sacrifice, and discipline of those worthy of becoming dark ops.

In this book, the author not only reveals the secrets of how the elite special forces are trained for action, but also discusses all the unpleasant, negative aspects of the russian army. for that, russia's military officials scored him severely, whereas commanders of operational units engaged in bat

For the first time ever, the explosive truth behind the world's most secret special operations organizationa top-secret u.s. army special operations unit has been running covert missions all over the world, from leading death squads to the hideout of drug baron pablo escobar to capturing saddam hussein and, in one of the greatest special operations missions of all time, helping to track down al-qa'eda leader osama bin laden. "the activity," as it became known to insiders, has achieved near-mythical status, even among the world's special operations elite. hidden from the politicians and the government bean counters, the activity has been carrying out deniable operations, preparing the way for delta and seal team six.now journalist michael smith gets inside this clandestine military team to expose their explosive history and secrets. smith has spoken to many former members of the activity and reveals the incredible truth behind the world's most secret special operations organization, a unit that is at the forefront of the war on terror.