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Sam Harper #0.5
Ranger Selection
Army Engineer vs. Infantry Officer
Lieutenant Harper, surfing Army Engineer, must pass the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). He's promised Michelle, his ex-girlfriend CIA Officer, to be one of the few selected for the coveted 75th Regimental scroll. She's recruited him to back her up by commanding a Military Intelligence platoon in Korea, but he has to be selected as a Ranger first.
RASP won't be easy. Harper must lead a pair of enlisted Ranger candidates to victory. Captain Dobbs, an infantry officer also competing for selection, has Harper's number. Aggressive officers battle head-to-head in each task; Engineer vs. Infantry.
The 75th Ranger Regiment's motto, Sua Sponte, requires initiative, but will Harper win or lose against Dobbs by sticking with the Ranger Handbook? Or might he die in the process?
Lieutenant Harper, surfing Army Engineer, must pass the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). He's promised Michelle, his ex-girlfriend CIA Officer, to be one of the few selected for the coveted 75th Regimental scroll. She's recruited him to back her up by commanding a Military Intelligence platoon in Korea, but he has to be selected as a Ranger first.
RASP won't be easy. Harper must lead a pair of enlisted Ranger candidates to victory. Captain Dobbs, an infantry officer also competing for selection, has Harper's number. Aggressive officers battle head-to-head in each task; Engineer vs. Infantry.
The 75th Ranger Regiment's motto, Sua Sponte, requires initiative, but will Harper win or lose against Dobbs by sticking with the Ranger Handbook? Or might he die in the process?
- GenresMilitary FictionFiction
16 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2019
95 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Sewell
10 books26 followersThomas Sewell lives in Charlotte, lured there by his wife, but grew up out West. A late intellectual bloomer, at age 13 he graduated from high school and started computer electronics courses in college. (Assembly for 8-bit processors!) Already 6 ft. tall, so no one noticed he was a little young. Bummed rides to school because he was too young for a driver's license.
Thomas has always been an autodidact with a variety of hobbies and interests, especially economics, military history, and the law. Worked in Reston and McLean, Virginia on 9/11, but only ever officially worked for the government as a contractor. Thomas has performed technology and security work for several fortune 500 companies and in a quarter of his time manages a team responsible for one of the world's largest financial networks.
Along the way, he's founded a private security company, an Internet Service Provider, and a K-8 Charter School. He's read over ten thousand books and written a few in self-defense, among them the Sam Harper, Sovereign Security Company, and Mike Drake series, some of which you can even purchase.
Thomas has always been an autodidact with a variety of hobbies and interests, especially economics, military history, and the law. Worked in Reston and McLean, Virginia on 9/11, but only ever officially worked for the government as a contractor. Thomas has performed technology and security work for several fortune 500 companies and in a quarter of his time manages a team responsible for one of the world's largest financial networks.
Along the way, he's founded a private security company, an Internet Service Provider, and a K-8 Charter School. He's read over ten thousand books and written a few in self-defense, among them the Sam Harper, Sovereign Security Company, and Mike Drake series, some of which you can even purchase.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 23, 2022
A detailed account of a training exercise.
December 20, 2020
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
"Ranger Selection ( A Sam Harper Military Thriller )" is my first introduction to Sewall's work. I'm very glad of that introduction.
The author did a top shelf job of world building and character development. This Sewall does masterfully in this tidbit that gives the reader just a taste of Sam Harper and leaving us wanting more. Sam Harper, an engineer, shows that by the book isn't always the solution to a challenge to persevere against the infantry.
I am looking forward to reading "Techno Ranger: A Sam Harper Military Thriller ( Sam Harper, #1 )" the first book in this series.
In the interest of transparency, I was given a review copy of this story and I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
"Ranger Selection ( A Sam Harper Military Thriller )" is my first introduction to Sewall's work. I'm very glad of that introduction.
The author did a top shelf job of world building and character development. This Sewall does masterfully in this tidbit that gives the reader just a taste of Sam Harper and leaving us wanting more. Sam Harper, an engineer, shows that by the book isn't always the solution to a challenge to persevere against the infantry.
I am looking forward to reading "Techno Ranger: A Sam Harper Military Thriller ( Sam Harper, #1 )" the first book in this series.
In the interest of transparency, I was given a review copy of this story and I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
March 20, 2020
This is a short story but packs much excitement into the narrative. Sam is testing for the Army Rangers, and as an officer he must demonstrate his leadership skills as well as his conditioning. His squad is matched against one led by an experienced NCO, and the results of their competition lead to suspense and excitement. The characters are realistic and well-described. The writing is clear and straightforward. This is a quick and fun read, and has no actual enemy action.
July 13, 2020
A short story, it deals with the selection process for getting an assignment as a ranger. Give you a good feel for how difficult the process can be and how easy it is to mess it up and fail the selection. Takes the reader through every step of the process including the final one, the actual selection itself. Nicely done, the reader comes away feeling like he/she went through it themselves.
November 13, 2020
Very well put together story. It felt as though you were "parachuted" into the middle of a longer novel but without the sometime tedious character buildup.
Would definitely recommend this to readers of Flynn and Child.
I really enjoyed this short story and would give this tale a solid four out of five possible stars.
As with all reviews, this is merely my five cents worth.
Would definitely recommend this to readers of Flynn and Child.
I really enjoyed this short story and would give this tale a solid four out of five possible stars.
As with all reviews, this is merely my five cents worth.
October 2, 2021
The prequel for the Sam Harper series. Lieutenant Harper, surfing Army Engineer, must pass the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) he promised Michelle, his ex-girlfriend CIA Officer he would. We see as he goes through the training and what he does to get his RASP. I want to read the next book.
June 10, 2020
Character development - top notch! Storyline - fast paced, exciting, no continuity issues and realistic. Overall - wish this had been a full novel. That said, it is a great intro to Thomas Sewell. You should enjoy it!
June 20, 2020
This very short story gives us a small taste of what some of our men go through. They do it for many different reasons. The main reason (I like to think) of them doing it is for protecting the U.S. from danger.
January 31, 2021
A prequel for the Sam Harper series:
As with all of Thomas Sewells books, it grabs you and doesn't let go until the end. This details Sam Harper's background, how he got to be the Ranger that he is in subsequent books. Entertaining.
As with all of Thomas Sewells books, it grabs you and doesn't let go until the end. This details Sam Harper's background, how he got to be the Ranger that he is in subsequent books. Entertaining.
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January 3, 2020Great short story Lt Harper was a good character who seemed to know what he was doing.
October 1, 2020
Good Quick Read. A enjoyable Short Story
March 5, 2020
Great short story!
August 3, 2020
Enjoyed this book very much.
Looking forward to more of his work.
Looking forward to more of his work.
June 9, 2021
nN interesting short read. Having been to jump school at Ft Benning and having supported the 75th in Vietnam I can appreciate what a person has to go through to become a Ranger
July 16, 2021
This is a good short story. Sam Harper made a promise to Michelle to make ranger. Now all he needs is to pass all their tests. This story is about the tests and his inventive ways of passing. I enjoyed the story and would recommend it.
December 18, 2021
A short story which describes the effort to be selected as a Ranger. Well written to reveal the motivation and techniques used to be successful. A good introduction to this series of books.
May 15, 2022
Believe it or not, writing an awesome short story is 1,000 times more difficult than writing an awesome novel. Writing a short story that works is an art that most writers never master. Developing a storyline and populating it with characters that come alive for the reader is a real challenge when the writer has 15,000 words or fewer to work with. Most published short stories run 3,000 to 5,000. Thomas Sewell is one of the few writers who has mastered the short story, and Ranger Selection shows that mastery.
In Ranger Selection, a 16-page short story, Lt. Harper, our protagonist, goal is to become a ranger so he can keep a promise that he made to his girl, to join her in Korea. To do that, he must be selected as a ranger. To be selected, he must not only overcome the obstacles placed before him by the other soldiers he is competing against to win the coveted Ranger Shoulder Scrolls, he must face and overcome his own limitations. Trained aws an Army Engineer, he and his team of two are competing against trained, experienced infantrymen. The odds seem to be stacked against him, but he has to win if he wants to be with the woman he loves. Can he do it? Read this masterpiece of storytelling and find out.
Ranger Selection is a fast-paced story you cannot put down until you finish it. If you are anything like me, a reader who thrives on military thrillers, you will leave Ranger Selection with an almost insatiable desire to read more of Thomas Sewell's stories.
In Ranger Selection, a 16-page short story, Lt. Harper, our protagonist, goal is to become a ranger so he can keep a promise that he made to his girl, to join her in Korea. To do that, he must be selected as a ranger. To be selected, he must not only overcome the obstacles placed before him by the other soldiers he is competing against to win the coveted Ranger Shoulder Scrolls, he must face and overcome his own limitations. Trained aws an Army Engineer, he and his team of two are competing against trained, experienced infantrymen. The odds seem to be stacked against him, but he has to win if he wants to be with the woman he loves. Can he do it? Read this masterpiece of storytelling and find out.
Ranger Selection is a fast-paced story you cannot put down until you finish it. If you are anything like me, a reader who thrives on military thrillers, you will leave Ranger Selection with an almost insatiable desire to read more of Thomas Sewell's stories.
June 29, 2022
I just finished this book. I liked reading it very much as it was very interesting and I will be going on in this series.
December 12, 2020
A great intro to a new-to-me series. Looking forward to reading more!
February 29, 2020
FTX: Field Tactical Exercise
The weapons may be electronic and non lethal but the tactics can be as life-threatening as the real thing. For Lieutenant Harper the risks seemed worth it. The missions to follow equally dangerous no doubt. The man in charge of this set of tests would seem to have given Harper the tough end of the second and third trials.
The weapons may be electronic and non lethal but the tactics can be as life-threatening as the real thing. For Lieutenant Harper the risks seemed worth it. The missions to follow equally dangerous no doubt. The man in charge of this set of tests would seem to have given Harper the tough end of the second and third trials.
February 14, 2025
A Tough Selection Process
A good bio that demonstrates the military mentality combining history and current culture to accomplish the mission! We learn the book methods, but have to improvise, adapt, and overcome to suceed because the enemy doesn't always do what we anticipate or the enemy has more resources to apply than we do. This clearly shows why Rangers Lead the Way!
A good bio that demonstrates the military mentality combining history and current culture to accomplish the mission! We learn the book methods, but have to improvise, adapt, and overcome to suceed because the enemy doesn't always do what we anticipate or the enemy has more resources to apply than we do. This clearly shows why Rangers Lead the Way!
March 14, 2021
A very short prequel to the Sam Harper series, 10 minute read. It does a very good job in the development of the main character.
January 7, 2022
This was a gripping short read. Emphasize short. But you get the flavor of the writing and you will know that you his longer reads are more than captivating. Good one to start with.
January 15, 2022
Tough Selection Process
Although Ranger Selection is a short story and doesn’t take long to read, it’s a strong and action filled tale. Boy do they do it tough!
Although Ranger Selection is a short story and doesn’t take long to read, it’s a strong and action filled tale. Boy do they do it tough!
October 11, 2023
Action
Very nice short story that gives the reader a front row seat at elite military training. I'm looking forward to reading more stories in this series.
Very nice short story that gives the reader a front row seat at elite military training. I'm looking forward to reading more stories in this series.
October 5, 2022
An interesting Ranger selection short story. To fulfill a promise to Michelle, Sam Harper must pass the Ranger's tests to become one of their officers. Regulations state that everything must be done by the book. But the book cannot possibly cover all enemy actions. Sam Harper simply shows the testing authority what he's made of. Interesting and enjoyable.
Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Inspirational. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Action-packed. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Inspirational. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
May 21, 2025
Ranger Selection: A Sam Harper Military Thriller, my first read from author Thomas Sewell . Reminiscent of the works of author Tom Clancy & Andrew Watts, a well-writen, well-developed, 16-page introduction to the Sam Harper series. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with Techno Ranger: A Sam Harper Military Thriller high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
September 9, 2024
Felt like I was there
Never having served in the military, I have a great appreciation for the grit it takes for training and the emotional toll it takes on family & loved ones.
Fave line:
‘I'd reply with action, not trash talk.’
Some sage advice from the author:
War is unpredictable, so prepare as much as possible in as many ways possible.
Looking forward to Harper’s assignment in ‘Techno Ranger’.
Never having served in the military, I have a great appreciation for the grit it takes for training and the emotional toll it takes on family & loved ones.
Fave line:
‘I'd reply with action, not trash talk.’
Some sage advice from the author:
War is unpredictable, so prepare as much as possible in as many ways possible.
Looking forward to Harper’s assignment in ‘Techno Ranger’.
April 9, 2022
Good
I don't know what I was expecting. It was a training exercise for Rangers. Interesting, but not my cup of tea.
I don't mind a little battle every once in awhile, but the exercises were the whole story.
Perhaps once he is a Ranger there will be different scenarios.
I don't know what I was expecting. It was a training exercise for Rangers. Interesting, but not my cup of tea.
I don't mind a little battle every once in awhile, but the exercises were the whole story.
Perhaps once he is a Ranger there will be different scenarios.
May 20, 2022
Novella
This novella was a fun read and had a few errors. The plot and characters developed well in which a short story. The overall was so he could become a Ranger. Some of the ramblings of the MC were pointless, but overall it was interesting.
This novella was a fun read and had a few errors. The plot and characters developed well in which a short story. The overall was so he could become a Ranger. Some of the ramblings of the MC were pointless, but overall it was interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews