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Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior
IN combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. We are fighting guerrilla wars, against insurgents hidden in remote regions, often deep among the local population. In battles such as these, squadrons of billion-dollar bombers and naval fleets mean much less than on-the-ground intelligence and the ability to organize local forces. That’s why, more than ever before, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces—the legendary Green Berets. In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch—a former Navy SEAL widely admired for his books about SEAL training and operations—offers an unprecedented view of the training of the Army Special Forces warrior. Each year, several thousand enlisted men and several hundred officers volunteer for Special Forces training; less than a quarter of those who apply will complete the course. Chosen Soldier spells out in fascinating detail the arduous regimen these men undergo—the demanding selection process and grueling field exercises, the high-level technical training and intensive language courses, and the simulated battle problems that test everything from how well they gather operational intelligence to their skills at negotiating with volatile, often hostile, local leaders. Green Berets are expected to be deadly in combat, yes, but their responsibilities go far beyond those of other Special Operations fighters; they’re taught to operate in foreign cultures, often behind enemy lines; to recruit, train, and lead local forces; to gather intelligence in hostile territory; to forge bonds across languages and cultures. They must not only be experts in such fields as explosives, communications, engineering, and field medicine, but also be able to teach those skills to others. Each and every Green Beret must function as tactical combat leader, negotiator, teacher, drill sergeant, and diplomat. These tasks require more than just physical prowess; they require a unique mix of character, intelligence, language skills, and—most of all—adaptability. It’s no wonder that the Green Berets’ training regimen is known as the hardest in the world. Drawing on his unprecedented access to the closed world of Army Special Forces training, Dick Couch paints a vivid, intimate portrait of these extraordinary men and the process that forges America’s smartest, most versatile, and most valuable fighting force.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
235 people are currently reading
2044 people want to read
About the author
Dick Couch
34 books160 followersMr. Couch graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967. He graduated from BUD/S training in Class 45 in 1969. He was a case officer for the CIA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 2, 2021
This book was very informative about the US Army Special Forces, or the Green Berets. The author does not give you a history of the Green Berets but takes you on the journey to becoming a member of the elite group.
The author starts with Basic Training, Airborne school, and going through selection and qualifying. The book goes into great detail about the different stages of training: mental and physical stress, range qualifying, map/compass reading and land navigation, the Robin Sage training portion, and all the training milestones these soldiers must obtain.
This was very readable and informative. Overall I liked it and would recommend it to anyone curious about undertaking this demanding adventure. Thanks!
The author starts with Basic Training, Airborne school, and going through selection and qualifying. The book goes into great detail about the different stages of training: mental and physical stress, range qualifying, map/compass reading and land navigation, the Robin Sage training portion, and all the training milestones these soldiers must obtain.
This was very readable and informative. Overall I liked it and would recommend it to anyone curious about undertaking this demanding adventure. Thanks!
September 25, 2017
As one of the committee members who helped evolve SFAS and the updated Q-Course, this book was an interesting read. For anyone who wants to know how Special Forces (aka Green Berets) are chosen, selected and trained, this book is an excellent read.
Dick Couch is a legend in the Spec Ops community so it's refreshing to get his take on things.
One thing that he focuses on is the mental challenges and requirements. I found Robin Sage to be an extraordinary test of leadership and thinking on my feet when I went through and its good to know this hasn't changed. The key to it is the NCO cadre. They come from teams and know the students they are training are going to those teams. I still remember SFC Arrowsmith walking with us during Robin Sage.
It's satisfying to know that the new generation of Special Forces soldiers are so well trained and prepared, especially as they are constantly in harm's way.
Highly recommended.
Dick Couch is a legend in the Spec Ops community so it's refreshing to get his take on things.
One thing that he focuses on is the mental challenges and requirements. I found Robin Sage to be an extraordinary test of leadership and thinking on my feet when I went through and its good to know this hasn't changed. The key to it is the NCO cadre. They come from teams and know the students they are training are going to those teams. I still remember SFC Arrowsmith walking with us during Robin Sage.
It's satisfying to know that the new generation of Special Forces soldiers are so well trained and prepared, especially as they are constantly in harm's way.
Highly recommended.
January 24, 2012
Couch, a former Navy SEAL and CIA case officer, is the only writer ever given the privilege to attend the many months of Special Forces pre-selection, preparation, selection, and qualification training from start to finish. He was given “full access to all training, venues, students, and training cadres.” Couch did not merely interview. He and his wife moved to one of the few residential structures on base at Camp Mackall in North Carolina. Couch went out with the SF candidates to observe first hand exactly what they did, and, in a number of instances, do it with them.
One of the things I loved about this book are the personal bios given about the backgrounds of the various candidates. They are not at all what you’d expect—everything from bouncers to engineers to one fellow who had a degree in and a passion for Russian literature. I also enjoyed the details he gave about the training. There are about 1.2 million people in the US Army. Only about 5,000 of them are in the Special Forces. When you finish, you have a good feel for the types of things they learn and why about 80% of those who volunteer for training wash out.
I couldn’t put this of MASTERS OF CHAOS down. If you decide to read them, let me also recommend you download and read Army Field Manual 3-05.20 Army Special Forces Operations as well, which is the Army’s “keystone manual for Special Forces (SF) doctrine” that “describes SF roles, missions, capabilities, organization, command and control, employment, and sustainment operations across the operational continuum.” You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/3ryt3o3. For those who just want an overview of these forces, the Army has provided a great site here: http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces.....
One of the things I loved about this book are the personal bios given about the backgrounds of the various candidates. They are not at all what you’d expect—everything from bouncers to engineers to one fellow who had a degree in and a passion for Russian literature. I also enjoyed the details he gave about the training. There are about 1.2 million people in the US Army. Only about 5,000 of them are in the Special Forces. When you finish, you have a good feel for the types of things they learn and why about 80% of those who volunteer for training wash out.
I couldn’t put this of MASTERS OF CHAOS down. If you decide to read them, let me also recommend you download and read Army Field Manual 3-05.20 Army Special Forces Operations as well, which is the Army’s “keystone manual for Special Forces (SF) doctrine” that “describes SF roles, missions, capabilities, organization, command and control, employment, and sustainment operations across the operational continuum.” You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/3ryt3o3. For those who just want an overview of these forces, the Army has provided a great site here: http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces.....
November 10, 2009
This book was pretty interesting as it described the training that Army Special Forces (aka Green Berets) go through. The fact that it was written by a Navy SEAL added to it because even he was surprised at the amount of training they receive in such a short amount of time. Aside from all the walking with 100+ pounds of gear, the amount of material they learn in extremely compressed schedules is astounding.
What *really* bothered me about this book was the quotes from the candidates in the program. The author would directly quote responses to questions he asked such as why they wanted to be in the Special Forces, why led them to the Army, etc. Just reading the quotes gave me douche chills. I refuse to believe that anyone talks like that outside of poorly scripted B movies. It actually made it difficult to finish the book. It literally took me a couple of months to get around to finishing it.
In the author's previous books about SEAL training I didn't have the same problem. I'm not sure what was different in this book and don't care enough to go back and see what he did differently in the others.
What *really* bothered me about this book was the quotes from the candidates in the program. The author would directly quote responses to questions he asked such as why they wanted to be in the Special Forces, why led them to the Army, etc. Just reading the quotes gave me douche chills. I refuse to believe that anyone talks like that outside of poorly scripted B movies. It actually made it difficult to finish the book. It literally took me a couple of months to get around to finishing it.
In the author's previous books about SEAL training I didn't have the same problem. I'm not sure what was different in this book and don't care enough to go back and see what he did differently in the others.
October 22, 2022
Dick Couch is well-renowned for his non-fiction focusing on the assessment and selection processes of American special operations forces. He's covered SEAL training (his alma mater), the 75th Ranger Regiment assessment and selection, and the Marine Raider Individual Training Course. In Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior, Couch covers the Special Forces Qualification Course.
It is a captivating read. It truly emphasizes to the reader that those who wear the coveted green beret do more than just kick down doors (although that is one of their missions and capabilities). What sets the US Army Special Forces apart from its contemporaries is that (prior to the formation of the Marine Raiders) they were the only special operations force whose primary mission was unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense. All American SOF practice the FID skillset to a degree (cross-training with foreign forces is a regular occurrence), but only SF and the Raiders are trained specifically to raise foreign partisans and fight with, by, and through them.
For any looking to learn more about the Special Forces (especially those considering going through the pipeline), this is a very educational book. It details the unclassified portions of their training and shows that it is not for the faint of heart. To learn about a group of warriors, analyzing their formative training is a must, and Dick Couch does that with masterful skill in Chosen Soldier.
Highly recommended!
It is a captivating read. It truly emphasizes to the reader that those who wear the coveted green beret do more than just kick down doors (although that is one of their missions and capabilities). What sets the US Army Special Forces apart from its contemporaries is that (prior to the formation of the Marine Raiders) they were the only special operations force whose primary mission was unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense. All American SOF practice the FID skillset to a degree (cross-training with foreign forces is a regular occurrence), but only SF and the Raiders are trained specifically to raise foreign partisans and fight with, by, and through them.
For any looking to learn more about the Special Forces (especially those considering going through the pipeline), this is a very educational book. It details the unclassified portions of their training and shows that it is not for the faint of heart. To learn about a group of warriors, analyzing their formative training is a must, and Dick Couch does that with masterful skill in Chosen Soldier.
Highly recommended!
January 29, 2025
An in depth look at the training regimen for Green Berets. I have always had a lot of respect for them or any other special forces member & this book reinforced that. It is somewhat dated, however and the training regimens have been adapted since the book was written.
September 28, 2013
This book takes that sub-genre and makes it even more focused, and is all the better because of that. Dick Couch’s choice, with the exception of the first chapter, of focusing solely on the training of Green Berets rather than on the whole history of the outfit as a whole really lets him go into details that broader texts miss.
As a former SEAL Couch defiantly knows about Special Forces and is able to translate that into really detailed and clear explanation of what these men go through. He gives enough background detail of the people he is interacting with to be interesting without giving us page after page of soldiers that come and go through the training, a trap some history books fall into. This focus on the training with a brief overview of the men involved is more important when discussing Special Forces as so many men fall out of the training. Couch gives a good amount of anecdotal details about the candidates to make you feel connected to them without having to go into great detail about each man.
The pace of the book is also noteworthy. A poorly written history book can be a little tough to read. Having to record so much information and so many facts can leave a book a little dry if the author does not have the ability to keep an interesting narrative going throughout. Couch has mastered this narrative version of history writing and Chosen Soldier has a very easy to read flow.
There are a few problems with Couch’s writing however. Because he has broken the specialist training into its own sections there are times when he goes into detail about the same event nearly verbatim in multiple chapters. This doesn’t happen to often but when it does it can be distracting. He also seems to have lost some objectivity when writing this book. He is himself a character in his own books and recounts his side of interactions with soldiers as much as their interactions among each other. Doing this a few times might have its charms but he pushes this a little too far and his imposing himself in the story happens a little too much for my liking.
None of this detracts from the book. Chosen Soldier is a well-paced, informative read that anyone with interest in the military should pick up.
Read Expanded Review
As a former SEAL Couch defiantly knows about Special Forces and is able to translate that into really detailed and clear explanation of what these men go through. He gives enough background detail of the people he is interacting with to be interesting without giving us page after page of soldiers that come and go through the training, a trap some history books fall into. This focus on the training with a brief overview of the men involved is more important when discussing Special Forces as so many men fall out of the training. Couch gives a good amount of anecdotal details about the candidates to make you feel connected to them without having to go into great detail about each man.
The pace of the book is also noteworthy. A poorly written history book can be a little tough to read. Having to record so much information and so many facts can leave a book a little dry if the author does not have the ability to keep an interesting narrative going throughout. Couch has mastered this narrative version of history writing and Chosen Soldier has a very easy to read flow.
There are a few problems with Couch’s writing however. Because he has broken the specialist training into its own sections there are times when he goes into detail about the same event nearly verbatim in multiple chapters. This doesn’t happen to often but when it does it can be distracting. He also seems to have lost some objectivity when writing this book. He is himself a character in his own books and recounts his side of interactions with soldiers as much as their interactions among each other. Doing this a few times might have its charms but he pushes this a little too far and his imposing himself in the story happens a little too much for my liking.
None of this detracts from the book. Chosen Soldier is a well-paced, informative read that anyone with interest in the military should pick up.
Read Expanded Review
December 29, 2017
Just a bit boring.
February 19, 2019
I think this book was good, but not quite for me. I wanted more action. but that's just my taste. Although I did go into the book thinking it was realistic fiction, so that may have effected my opinion. nonetheless, The book is well researched and well written, even has some photos. I did like the part that had a list of firearms used by countries around the world. I think this book is for people who like to learn about the training and the process a soldier goes through. I feel that this could be a documentary. I like that it entails all the aspects of training a soldier. It includes details so minute that it even says what is inside an MRE. This book was well written and well researched, but it's just not up my alley. that doesn't mean it's bad, that just means it's not made for people like me.
Read
February 3, 2014Special forces
I found this to be very educational however I would to have liked to read more about the physical feats or special forces have to go through in training. I know some things just can't be written about but it was a very summarized book about the training. I would have to give this a marginal rating because I prefer books written with first hand accounts like lone survivor or american sniper. there was more detail on the torture endured during training.
I found this to be very educational however I would to have liked to read more about the physical feats or special forces have to go through in training. I know some things just can't be written about but it was a very summarized book about the training. I would have to give this a marginal rating because I prefer books written with first hand accounts like lone survivor or american sniper. there was more detail on the torture endured during training.
February 21, 2024
4.5 stars. Wished I had read this book 15+ years ago when it came out, dagnabbit. It could have changed the whole trajectory of my life and then I could have been something.
I loved the writing of this book. It's quality, hopeful, and even wholesome. I wish the real military was of this caliper and not the crude, foul crass that it is. For example the cadre seems to actually care (and have love) for the men and they are encouraging. Like they won't let them quit at all the first week. But maybe it's the charismatic nature of the author bleeding through.
Notes:
One reason Islamic nations are so poor is that economic freedom leads to wealth and wealth leads to political freedom. And insurgents under Sharia law can't allow that to happen.
600 green berets are awarded each year.
He says the Special Forces are greater than SEALS and Rangers plus they're diplomatic. They are the peace Corp with guns. And the author was a SEAL so that's saying something.
Tim Kennedy was interviewed but he didn't mention his second daughter.
Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City bomber) tried out for special forces. His psych profile set off a lot of red flags.
Here's a thought I had: What if the reason why Russia is fighting this war with Ukraine is to polish their troops to be ready for when China and USA fight?
I loved the writing of this book. It's quality, hopeful, and even wholesome. I wish the real military was of this caliper and not the crude, foul crass that it is. For example the cadre seems to actually care (and have love) for the men and they are encouraging. Like they won't let them quit at all the first week. But maybe it's the charismatic nature of the author bleeding through.
Notes:
One reason Islamic nations are so poor is that economic freedom leads to wealth and wealth leads to political freedom. And insurgents under Sharia law can't allow that to happen.
600 green berets are awarded each year.
He says the Special Forces are greater than SEALS and Rangers plus they're diplomatic. They are the peace Corp with guns. And the author was a SEAL so that's saying something.
Tim Kennedy was interviewed but he didn't mention his second daughter.
Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City bomber) tried out for special forces. His psych profile set off a lot of red flags.
Here's a thought I had: What if the reason why Russia is fighting this war with Ukraine is to polish their troops to be ready for when China and USA fight?
June 17, 2017
I've read a fair amount of books on special forces now, and this one was unique. First, it focused on the Green Berets, or Army Special Forces, whom you seem to hear less about these days than Seals or Army Rangers, for some reason. Second, this book took a deep dive into the training methods of the Green Berets, far more than other books I have read. It's amazing the depth of training--physical, technical, tactical, linguistic, cultural, etc.--that these folks go through. Lastly, I was very impressed by the unique cultural mission of the Special Forces, by their emphasis upon cross-cultural communication in order to train and work with indigenous groups. This is different than the purely direct action focus of other special force groups.
As always, as a leftist I think our military is often sent to serve horrible, neo-colonialist missions, but I cannot help but admire their training, commitment, and never-quit mentality. Other movements and groups could learn a lot from them.
As always, as a leftist I think our military is often sent to serve horrible, neo-colonialist missions, but I cannot help but admire their training, commitment, and never-quit mentality. Other movements and groups could learn a lot from them.
July 5, 2021
This is a must read for anyone who knows a special Forces warrior! The training for this specialty is over a year long of arduous, sleep deprived making of a soldier. These guys are the ones who go into foreign territories with the sole mission of “getting in “ with the locals. Why? Because that’s where you find the intelligence that doesn’t show up in any other reports. These guys are trained to speak the language and know the customs of the natives. Yeah. They kick down doors too. But the bulk of their job will never be seen on the nightly news.
The writing is easy. Very conversational. I had to skip over the tactical stuff, because I just wasn’t interested. I was more interested in the guys involved. Where were they from and why did they choose this. And the author did not disappoint!
The writing is easy. Very conversational. I had to skip over the tactical stuff, because I just wasn’t interested. I was more interested in the guys involved. Where were they from and why did they choose this. And the author did not disappoint!
November 18, 2020
I started reading this book years ago when a friend was considering applying for Special Forces training after he enlisted. I stopped reading the book when he ultimately determined that that wasn’t the path for him after enlisting.
That said, I did finally get back to finishing the book this year.
I think it was an extremely interesting insight into some of what goes into Special Forces training. As the author mentions, things have changed and there are things that are classified and not included. However, overall it was an interesting book for people that are interested in the military and training. Or for people that might be interested in applying for Special Forces training themselves.
That said, I did finally get back to finishing the book this year.
I think it was an extremely interesting insight into some of what goes into Special Forces training. As the author mentions, things have changed and there are things that are classified and not included. However, overall it was an interesting book for people that are interested in the military and training. Or for people that might be interested in applying for Special Forces training themselves.
September 16, 2022
This was my first Dick Couch special operations book about something other than the Navy SEALs. I loved that, from the outside, he clarified terms and roles of the different special operations groups, and how and why the Green Berets are so different than other more direct-action groups. There were times I wished he went into more detail, or followed one training group more closely, but I got the impression this was also written from a much different perspective given his own background as a SEAL. I came out of it with a great deal more respect for the Army Special Forces for sure.
Side note: The editor than me did catch more than 10 typos/missing words/inconsistent word treatments throughout the book, but for a 398-page book, I guess that's an acceptable ratio...
Side note: The editor than me did catch more than 10 typos/missing words/inconsistent word treatments throughout the book, but for a 398-page book, I guess that's an acceptable ratio...
June 16, 2017
This was a Twitter recommendation, and I am so glad I took it! I am very unfamiliar with military and special forces, and that just made it even more fascinating. It started out a bit slow, with background on special forces in general. It was mildly interesting, but things really got fired up when the author started in on the actual premise of the book - following special forces trainees through their training.
The reading was phenomenal, and thoroughly enjoyed. It's nonfiction, but read a like fiction. I felt for those guys, I was so proud of each of their achievements, and was left in awe of their capability to swiftly learn all that they do.
The reading was phenomenal, and thoroughly enjoyed. It's nonfiction, but read a like fiction. I felt for those guys, I was so proud of each of their achievements, and was left in awe of their capability to swiftly learn all that they do.
July 10, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
Read this as part of a buddy read and I enjoyed it. For someone who isn't very familiar with the U.S. military, this book can be a little confusing, even boring, at times.
However, the book is balanced by getting to learn the personal stories and triumphs of our country's elite warriors. I loved the way the author showcased just as much personality and heart as he did hardcore training and war stories.
This book gave me an inside perspective to the training of U.S. Green Berets that I wouldn't have otherwise had, and I'm grateful for the chance to have learned a lot while I was reading.
Read this as part of a buddy read and I enjoyed it. For someone who isn't very familiar with the U.S. military, this book can be a little confusing, even boring, at times.
However, the book is balanced by getting to learn the personal stories and triumphs of our country's elite warriors. I loved the way the author showcased just as much personality and heart as he did hardcore training and war stories.
This book gave me an inside perspective to the training of U.S. Green Berets that I wouldn't have otherwise had, and I'm grateful for the chance to have learned a lot while I was reading.
June 24, 2019
Mr. Couch has written an excellent book on the process of becoming a Special Forces soldier and their importance in warfare today. His writing is very personable, showing both his authority on the subject, but also acknowledging that he too learned a great deal from shadowing the Army's best and brightest.
February 6, 2023
So relevant for me as my son was going through assessments and now preparing for Q course. I loved
Seeing the process through the authors perspective. He introduced us to so many soldiers with great description and insight. The whole long process was broken into readable chunks only occasionally bogging down in details. He made it easy to stay engaged even for a Mom with no military background!
Seeing the process through the authors perspective. He introduced us to so many soldiers with great description and insight. The whole long process was broken into readable chunks only occasionally bogging down in details. He made it easy to stay engaged even for a Mom with no military background!
April 9, 2018
A look behind the curtain
A thorough and complete visualization of the demanding and complex training our SOF personnel willingly undertake. These true hero's are a special mix of toughness and compassion to compete their missions.
A thorough and complete visualization of the demanding and complex training our SOF personnel willingly undertake. These true hero's are a special mix of toughness and compassion to compete their missions.
April 10, 2019
Green Berets all the way
This isn't a story about an A detachment in a battle but rather how new green berets are selected and trained and why that's important today. An excellent and informative read.
This isn't a story about an A detachment in a battle but rather how new green berets are selected and trained and why that's important today. An excellent and informative read.
July 15, 2019
very revealing. I'm told by my vet that this book is the most accurate representation of the special forces training program. It's not a quick read if you don't already have some military jargon down, but worth the time. There's more to special forces than civilians and media see.
September 17, 2019
One of the best books I have ever had the privilege of reading. It is especially salient to me having a son going through SFPC and prepping for phase 1 of SFAS. I love the Green Berets. And this was very insightful as to the quality and caliber of men that choose to become Army SF.
April 7, 2020
Long and thorough book. Takes the reader through all the stages of becoming a SF soldier - both enlisted and officer. It could be used as a test for SF candidates to check their attention spans - it challenged mine.
April 3, 2022
A book that is becoming dated, however it still does an excellent job of cataloging the overall phases in the journey to earning the coveted Green Beret. Dick Couch does an exceptional job of intertwining is observations with first person interviews with both cadre and candidates.
November 4, 2022
This was an excellent read! I recommend this book to anyone serious about SF as it provides a lot of insight. It’s worth reading both before and after you’re training; you’ll be surprised to see how much your perspective changes.
June 16, 2023
An interesting and now old glimpse into Green Beret training. Couch traces the journey from civilian to deployment. He captures the tone and people well.
Perhaps I should have joined the army if the mindset displayed in the book is any indication.
92% Don’t give up
Perhaps I should have joined the army if the mindset displayed in the book is any indication.
92% Don’t give up
November 6, 2023
This book was insanely good. Very insightful on what special forces actually does and how they are trained. If you are interested in going special forces, this book is a necessity to read.
Couch did a great job. Makes u want to keep reading it
Couch did a great job. Makes u want to keep reading it
September 14, 2024
A very interesting read. If you want to understand the training and processes that green berets are put through, this is the book for you. It goes into detail about how the training is scheduled and what is expected of you as a special forces solider.
December 5, 2017
Skip the book, its a slow read and never get better. It reminds me of trying to walk in the ocean.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews