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Gentlemen Bastards: On the Ground in Afghanistan with America's Elite Special Forces
The Green Berets—a legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, their very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changed…
Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the military’s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units.
But in the almost nine years since, Special Forces units have forgone their previous mission, instead focusing on offensive raids. With time running short, the Green Berets are going back to their roots and have started to focus on training Afghan security forces and building an Afghan government one village at a time.
Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out first hand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood built upon the Special Forces’ rigorous selection process and arduous training that makes them the smartest soldiers on the battlefield. He also discovered the boredom of chasing an elusive enemy and managing third world cops and the infighting between teammates and other units.
Nine years after the start of the Afghan war, Maurer delivers a compelling account of modern warfare and of a fighting force that is doing everything in its power to achieve victory on a complex twenty-first century battlefield.
Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the military’s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units.
But in the almost nine years since, Special Forces units have forgone their previous mission, instead focusing on offensive raids. With time running short, the Green Berets are going back to their roots and have started to focus on training Afghan security forces and building an Afghan government one village at a time.
Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out first hand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood built upon the Special Forces’ rigorous selection process and arduous training that makes them the smartest soldiers on the battlefield. He also discovered the boredom of chasing an elusive enemy and managing third world cops and the infighting between teammates and other units.
Nine years after the start of the Afghan war, Maurer delivers a compelling account of modern warfare and of a fighting force that is doing everything in its power to achieve victory on a complex twenty-first century battlefield.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
77 people are currently reading
1050 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Maurer
37 books75 followersKEVIN MAURER is an award-winning journalist and the bestselling coauthor, with Mark Owen, of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden. He has covered special operations forces for a decade.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 16, 2021
A book was about Special Forces operators in Afghanistan. This book was OK and I think The Only Thing Worth Dying For was way better in my opinion. I felt this book was just written to make an easy buck. Nothing against these elite warriors but I didn't like it. Thanks!
February 24, 2014
It's Ok...but not what you'd expect
It's Ok...but not what you'd expect
I chose this book after reading Outlaw Platoon, by Sean Parnell. Although it covers some of the issues of the war in Afghanistan, it is not an intense read. Kevin Maurer was embedded with a Green Berets group, but failed to go in-depth in this book. It does read like a long article, and although it lacked intensity, it gives a special place to the Green Berets. He could have set up things better by describing the selection process, the background on each team member, and focus less on his preoccupation of "fitting in" with the team.
The book is like a slow burn, but never reaches a climax, despite the author's wish for "action," which never happens. Hate to say it, but you're better off skipping this portion of Maurer's work. Perhaps his other books are more artfully written.
It's Ok...but not what you'd expect
I chose this book after reading Outlaw Platoon, by Sean Parnell. Although it covers some of the issues of the war in Afghanistan, it is not an intense read. Kevin Maurer was embedded with a Green Berets group, but failed to go in-depth in this book. It does read like a long article, and although it lacked intensity, it gives a special place to the Green Berets. He could have set up things better by describing the selection process, the background on each team member, and focus less on his preoccupation of "fitting in" with the team.
The book is like a slow burn, but never reaches a climax, despite the author's wish for "action," which never happens. Hate to say it, but you're better off skipping this portion of Maurer's work. Perhaps his other books are more artfully written.
February 27, 2014
There was nothing wrong with this book, from a conventional standpoint. It was well written, and it was honest. But it was also boring. I admit that my own expectations were to blame. I had been looking forward to reading a book about the modern Green Berets, thinking it would be full of...war. That's not the case, though. It's mostly a travel diary that happens to take place in a country currently at war, to a point. The bulk of the story is about how the special forces are trying to train the Afghan police and commandos, and how they're trying to win hearts and minds. Things like that. It makes me sound like a dick, but there is nothing exciting about this book.
June 22, 2024
An interesting perspective of special ops fighting the Taliban. It was very sad reading this now and knowing all that work has now been destroyed and the Taliban that we rooted out of Afghanistan are now ruling the country.
March 29, 2015
When people think "Special Forces," they think of commandos slinking about in enemy territory with a knife in hand, killing the enemy in daring commando operations. Those who do a little research learn that Special Forces focuses on unconventional warfare and training indigenous forces, but their knowledge usually stops there.
In Gentlemen Bastards, war correspondent Kevin Mauer embeds with a 7th Special Forces Group ODA (operational detachment alpha, the modern term for an A-Team) for ten weeks and watches them as they conduct foreign internal defense (FID) operations, one of the two cornerstone SF missions. Those looking for a tale of gritty combat and dealing death to the Taliban will be sorely disappointed, as throughout the book, the ODA does not get into a single direct firefight.
What you will find in Gentlemen Bastards is how the GWOT can be won, through what Mauer and the ODA team leader term "people-centric" operations. You will see the day-to-day tasks that go into training an indigenous force: in this case, the Afghan Civil Order Police (ANCOP). You will see interpersonal politics, not just between the ODA soldiers and the Afghans, but between SF and conventional battlespace owners and even between ODA members. You will see the kind of man that makes it into Special Forces: intelligent type A personalities that think outside the box and do not know the meaning of the word "quit." Most importantly, you will see how Special Forces are being kept from realizing their full potential in the GWOT, hindered not only by regulations but also by interference and incompetence from the conventional Army.
In the ten weeks Mauer was embedded, he went from neutral observer to wearing the same desert digital uniform the ODA and ANCOP wore, growing out his beard, and carrying supplies for the ODA in his pack. He was not just embedded. He was immersed, and through his direct and well-written prose, the reader will be immersed, as well.
Gentlemen Bastards is definitely recommended reading for those who want to learn what Special Forces were meant to do, as well as those curious as to what it will take to win the Global War on Terror.
In Gentlemen Bastards, war correspondent Kevin Mauer embeds with a 7th Special Forces Group ODA (operational detachment alpha, the modern term for an A-Team) for ten weeks and watches them as they conduct foreign internal defense (FID) operations, one of the two cornerstone SF missions. Those looking for a tale of gritty combat and dealing death to the Taliban will be sorely disappointed, as throughout the book, the ODA does not get into a single direct firefight.
What you will find in Gentlemen Bastards is how the GWOT can be won, through what Mauer and the ODA team leader term "people-centric" operations. You will see the day-to-day tasks that go into training an indigenous force: in this case, the Afghan Civil Order Police (ANCOP). You will see interpersonal politics, not just between the ODA soldiers and the Afghans, but between SF and conventional battlespace owners and even between ODA members. You will see the kind of man that makes it into Special Forces: intelligent type A personalities that think outside the box and do not know the meaning of the word "quit." Most importantly, you will see how Special Forces are being kept from realizing their full potential in the GWOT, hindered not only by regulations but also by interference and incompetence from the conventional Army.
In the ten weeks Mauer was embedded, he went from neutral observer to wearing the same desert digital uniform the ODA and ANCOP wore, growing out his beard, and carrying supplies for the ODA in his pack. He was not just embedded. He was immersed, and through his direct and well-written prose, the reader will be immersed, as well.
Gentlemen Bastards is definitely recommended reading for those who want to learn what Special Forces were meant to do, as well as those curious as to what it will take to win the Global War on Terror.
May 6, 2013
Two stories here: one of Counterinsurgency policy and one on COIN in practice. The book is first and foremost a tale of the largely mundane yet wholly necessary game of training Afghan forces on the one hand; and secondly, an indirect tale of the difficulties of getting at an important topic (what is the full scope of Green Beret activity today compared to their original intent and purpose since they first showed up on the scene of US tools in carrying out American foreign policy). Kevin went for the first story, and battlefield conditions (dismissal of McChrystal, rising urgency of Afghan Local Police program under new Petraeus leadership) upon his arrival to Kandahar, gave him the other story. Consider the book a snapshot of US efforts c. 2010, during the Afghan surge, when lots of good news needed to happen quickly for the American public and Afghan civilian population. But like much of what has taken place in Afghanistan in the more than 10 years since NATO first intervened, what actually happened was far less sexy (and, more importantly, less helpful and exciting) than what ought to have taken place in the best of all possible worlds. I consider this more a cautionary tale of policy best intended for officers and NCOs than for casual readers looking for tales of US-Afghan success.
June 4, 2016
A different take on the Global War on Terror (GWOT) than most military memoirs, Gentlemen Bastards is written from an outside (non-military) perspective. Kevin Maurer is a journalist who was embedded with a team of Army Special Forces for a portion of their deployment. The perspective of an outsider provides a refreshing change from the standard military memoir (which, don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy) and allows the reader to learn about the Green Berets along with the author. I've read reviews that put the book down because of its "lack of action" but speaking as a member of the military, sometimes no action is the best sort of action. The mission of the Special Forces isn't to conduct direct-action raids, it's to train indigenous forces. In this book, you'll learn about the frustrations and issues faced by the Special Forces team as they conduct village stability operations in Afghanistan and train up the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP.) I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in modern military history, special operations, or the complex domestic politics of the Afghanistan military.
November 28, 2012
This is a non-fiction account of Kevin Maurer's time embedded with an Army Special Forces A-Detachment, in Afghanistan. Kevin contends that Special Forces in Afghanistan are now engaged in what was their original mission (1950s, 60s) the training of indigenous forces. The A-Detachment that he writes about were engaged in training and advising a unit of the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP). There is not a lot of combat action in this book, but there is a tremendous amount of insight into the day-to-day workings of the A-Det, and how these elite soldiers relate to each other, their Afghan counterparts, and the other American units around them. I saw a lot of similarities in these interactions to my own time in Special Forces in Vietnam, training and advising the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG). I highly recommend this book to those interested in Special Forces, and/ or the current conflict in Afghanistan.
April 18, 2013
The only--only--reason I don't give this book five stars is that Maurer insinuates himself too much into the narrative. Sorry, Kev, but I didn't pick up this book to read about you. The first chapter, "Green Berets," is almost all about Maurer: fine for a prologue, but, um, hey, the chapter is called "GREEN BERETS," not "Enter, Maurer." Take a cue from Evan Wright, man, and disappear from the narrative unless your presence is absolutely necessary.
Otherwise, GB is very well written. It's amusing, insightful, and relevant. Aside from Maurer-the-narrator's annoying presence, Maurer-the-writer does his job very well: the narrative is candid, literate, succinct, with enough flair to be profound, not not so much to seem affected. In other words, Maurer lets the story speak for itself and spares us the grand social commentaries, a la "Generation Kill." Indeed, though I love Wright's bestseller, I prefer Maurer's straightforward literary command.
Otherwise, GB is very well written. It's amusing, insightful, and relevant. Aside from Maurer-the-narrator's annoying presence, Maurer-the-writer does his job very well: the narrative is candid, literate, succinct, with enough flair to be profound, not not so much to seem affected. In other words, Maurer lets the story speak for itself and spares us the grand social commentaries, a la "Generation Kill." Indeed, though I love Wright's bestseller, I prefer Maurer's straightforward literary command.
June 22, 2020
An accurate and thus incredibly boring book about a journalist/writer embedded with an Army SF team in Afghanistan (near Kandahar) for many weeks in the 2010s. Spoiler: almost nothing happens, described in detail, and it's presented from the close-up view of a single ODA, losing perspective. Not particularly insightful or interesting, and no higher-level high-quality analysis, so there's really nothing here.
The author originally wanted to write something far more interesting (an account of an embed with a Village Stability Operations team), but instead was with a 7th Group ODA working with ANCOP (basically the equivalent of "state police" for Afghanistan), which is probably why it was so boring. There was some focus on SF vs. Big Army (101st), but nothing which justifies the book.
The author originally wanted to write something far more interesting (an account of an embed with a Village Stability Operations team), but instead was with a 7th Group ODA working with ANCOP (basically the equivalent of "state police" for Afghanistan), which is probably why it was so boring. There was some focus on SF vs. Big Army (101st), but nothing which justifies the book.
March 26, 2018
Green Beret Action
This is a fact filled book about a period of time spent with the Green Berets in Afghanistan. It us very well written, and lives up to the reputation of the journalist author. I got some insight into the mission of the men. The problem gaining insight into the people became obvious. The solutions offered by the writer make sense.
However, my reason for reading the book was to learn more about closer contact with the people and the enemy. I'm working with returning veterans and their problems post combat. This book was valuable to me, but only in a minor way.
This is a fact filled book about a period of time spent with the Green Berets in Afghanistan. It us very well written, and lives up to the reputation of the journalist author. I got some insight into the mission of the men. The problem gaining insight into the people became obvious. The solutions offered by the writer make sense.
However, my reason for reading the book was to learn more about closer contact with the people and the enemy. I'm working with returning veterans and their problems post combat. This book was valuable to me, but only in a minor way.
January 14, 2013
A fantastic account of one journalist's (Kevin Maurer) time embedded with a Special Forces (Green Beret) unit in Afghanistan. Not meant to be an action thriller or a plot driven tale, but an account of heroes nonetheless. Reading this book was constantly refreshing and always interesting due to Kevin's writing style and editorial observation of the world happening around him and how he affected that world while a part of it. I highly recommend "Gentlemen Bastards."
-Mitch Gerads
Co-Creator and Illustrator of "The ACTIVITY" from IMAGE Comics
-Mitch Gerads
Co-Creator and Illustrator of "The ACTIVITY" from IMAGE Comics
March 13, 2015
This Book is great and I 100% recommend it. One important thing to note before reading this book is, this book is NOT a big action book. Rather follows the struggles of boredom, training a foreign army, sharing the war with Conventional forces and other Special Operation Forces, and change of schedules for the 7th Special Forces group deployment to Afghanistan. It really shows the human side to these larger then life people, who are truly modern day Cowboys, as they are referred to in this book by the army's Conventional forces.
February 12, 2016
I thought this book was great! Before I would recommend it though,I would say it is not about a group of men fighting front line battles. It is about a group of special ops troops that are trained extensively in the art of special warfare, and their story of not being able to do what they are trained to do. It's a good quick read. Just don't expect to read about jumping out of helicopters and blowing things up. It's an awesome read and I feel like I would love to share a conversation with some of these guys.
July 25, 2014
The world needs more books written with, and about Green Berets. The SEALs get all the glory right now, but the Special Forces guys are doing some amazing things too.
Solid book, though it lost a star because it ended abruptly. I thought more of the author's opinions would've helped, as well as more time spent with the upper echelon commanders. Precious little action as well, but that's a good thing for a unit that's meant to build armies, not necessarily destroy them.
Solid book, though it lost a star because it ended abruptly. I thought more of the author's opinions would've helped, as well as more time spent with the upper echelon commanders. Precious little action as well, but that's a good thing for a unit that's meant to build armies, not necessarily destroy them.
February 14, 2019
I came in looking to gain a better understanding of special forces in action and got exactly that. As the author himself states, it was an unexpected book, both in structure and in conclusion, but it was exactly what I was looking for. Excellent audiobook performance.
March 25, 2018
Fun read. Wild series of events. Outlines what some of the 18 series dudes are doing downrange. De Opresso Liber!
October 30, 2019
Well written good info
The only negative about this book waiting for something to happen. It never does. Well organized,enjoyed the folks in it.
The only negative about this book waiting for something to happen. It never does. Well organized,enjoyed the folks in it.
March 7, 2021
A good book detailing the struggles both with being deployed but also with the multiple chains of command involved in the war effort.
May 7, 2017
Not impressed...... .I gazed over the saltiness of my battle rattle as a Lance Col in Vietnam! The essence of it all is that these feel good missions are in general a giant waste of time! I served with a bunch of these guys and their penchant for the "I'm special" treatment wears mighty thin on the Army as a whole ends up filled with brats. The author seems ready to afford these guys their big guy rules. The entire force rules over those who wish to be excepted. The 101st chain of command and others show the contempt of what the operators deserve. The author brings us back to the mess of the unprofessional conduct of the forces in Vietnam.
Not impressed. Setting the tenor by noticing the saltiness of one's battle rattle is for pfc's. The essence for all this falderal, feel good stuff is that is a giant waste of time,especially given it's improtu, off the cuff nature dealing with people who exhibit anything remotely near our cultural ideals. There is little value to the validity that the author attributes to the audacious behavior of those who are flaunt their big boy rules. It wears mighty thin on the Force as a whole. The author seemingly justifies this behavior and brings us back to the unprofessional officer and NCO corps in Vietnam. He forgot his experience with 82nd as professionals.
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Not impressed. Setting the tenor by noticing the saltiness of one's battle rattle is for pfc's. The essence for all this falderal, feel good stuff is that is a giant waste of time,especially given it's improtu, off the cuff nature dealing with people who exhibit anything remotely near our cultural ideals. There is little value to the validity that the author attributes to the audacious behavior of those who are flaunt their big boy rules. It wears mighty thin on the Force as a whole. The author seemingly justifies this behavior and brings us back to the unprofessional officer and NCO corps in Vietnam. He forgot his experience with 82nd as professionals.
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January 11, 2022
Reads a lot like a lot of other books from a similar era. I did like that the author, a journalist didn't just watch everyone else do things around camp, he actually did things to benefit the men he was embedded with.
I did listen to the audiobook version and my only complaint was some pronunciations were very weird compared to how I've heard the same names pronounced in the media, and in other audiobooks about the region, or about other men serving at the time.
I did listen to the audiobook version and my only complaint was some pronunciations were very weird compared to how I've heard the same names pronounced in the media, and in other audiobooks about the region, or about other men serving at the time.
October 1, 2017
This book was utterly boring . The narration was also pretty boring . I though it was a book about USA special forces but instead was more of a story about this guy embedded with them ... no actions whatsoever . Disappointed
February 17, 2018
Intriguing
While there's an attempt to capture the same mentality of the classic "Green berets" I felt like it didn't quite pull back the layers as well. Worth reading for the perspective and the final points on use of special forces
While there's an attempt to capture the same mentality of the classic "Green berets" I felt like it didn't quite pull back the layers as well. Worth reading for the perspective and the final points on use of special forces
April 18, 2017
I think the author attempted to write an exciting narrative of his embed with a Special Forces Village Stability Ops team, however, the team's mission was switched to setting up checkpoints/training Afghan National Cops and thus, many of the reasons this book (and the embed itself) were boring were beyond his control. Despite the doldrums, the author effectively captures the history, bold sense of purpose and (low) regard for others that embody special forces (or really the "elite" of any group). Additionally, the author is able to convey the legitimate frustrations of the special forces team when dealing with unhelpful high headquarters, Regular Army units and their Afghan trainees while trying to accomplish an everchanging mission. I found the book to be an easy read. So I would say this book is helpful in understanding the dynamic interplay between the Army and its unconventional units in the latter stages of war, more than a thrilling expose on combat. So the utility lies in better understanding that even the elite suffer through bordem and frustration of purpose.
April 13, 2014
Perhaps the best review comes from the author in the epilogue:
"I set out to write a contemporary "Green Berets", but left Afghanistan with a book that was closer to "Dispatches"... It was a strange trip. In some ways, the lack of action was an asset."
This book is like reading an explanation of baseball written by a kid looking through a crack in the outfield fence deep on the third base line. Not a player, and with a very limited view.
Despite a spot-on smack down of the SEAL prima donna behavior within the wire, the narrative misses the mark on the culture of special operations warfare and warriors. The author confuses common terms like "battalion" and "brigade" and uses them frequently when he should have used "division". With the author so close to Bragg I would have thought a "military" editor would be easy to employ?
Luckily, it is a quick read.
"I set out to write a contemporary "Green Berets", but left Afghanistan with a book that was closer to "Dispatches"... It was a strange trip. In some ways, the lack of action was an asset."
This book is like reading an explanation of baseball written by a kid looking through a crack in the outfield fence deep on the third base line. Not a player, and with a very limited view.
Despite a spot-on smack down of the SEAL prima donna behavior within the wire, the narrative misses the mark on the culture of special operations warfare and warriors. The author confuses common terms like "battalion" and "brigade" and uses them frequently when he should have used "division". With the author so close to Bragg I would have thought a "military" editor would be easy to employ?
Luckily, it is a quick read.
July 8, 2015
This was a well written book but it was not overly exciting. The author was granted clearance to embed with an ODA in Afghanistan. The reader gets a sense of the struggles that Special Forces are facing daily while they are attempting to train the Afghan National Police. After reading this I am convinced that it will be years, if ever that a central Afghan government can ever secure the peace.
At this point in OEF the Taliban or other insurgents know the fallacy of attempting to stand "toe to toe" with American forces. So the Taliban uses rocket attacks or IEDs. If you are want to read vivid description of combat then you will be disappointed. If you want to read about a SF deployment and the bureaucratic infighting then I would recommend this book.
At this point in OEF the Taliban or other insurgents know the fallacy of attempting to stand "toe to toe" with American forces. So the Taliban uses rocket attacks or IEDs. If you are want to read vivid description of combat then you will be disappointed. If you want to read about a SF deployment and the bureaucratic infighting then I would recommend this book.
December 17, 2015
It's nice to read something about a different Special Operations team in a sea of ubiquitous SEALs books. While this book doesn't have heart stopping action, I still thought it was interesting to see the ins and outs of a Green Beret unit and the doldrums of war. This might be off putting to many readers, but with no knowledge whatsoever of what daily life is like on the battlefield, I can imagine that the daily grind described in this book encapsulates a realistic picture of most Armed Forces units' daily grind during war. I'm guessing that most units don't engage in firefights every time they step outside the wire, and if that is true, then this book serves as an excellent glimpse into that assumption.
February 29, 2016
Good read and insider look into what it is like to be on a deployed Special Forces ODA. But, the author is a reporter, not SF, and thus not an insider, so he gets some things wrong, that only an SF guy would catch, little things, like calling the Team Sergeant the "Team's Sergeant" and buying in a bit too much into the SF mythology and bravado. But, he does catch some interesting details and insights, and makes some observations about the difficulties and frustrations of working with foreign, Third World, illiterate and tribal troops.
July 28, 2014
You can see how both the Soviet Union and the United States can't win here. There will never be unified Afghanistan for they are not unified and never have been!! This place is tribal lands with numerous tribes with no unity among the tribes!!!
"War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner." Cormac McCarthy
"War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner." Cormac McCarthy
October 11, 2014
I was anxious about reading this book, but this book was such a disappointment. It bored me to tears. The only thing that kept me reading was a hope it would get better. If you didn't know anything about Special Forces, then this book might give some insight. But if you have any knowledge of SF, then you're in for a dry ride.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews