Wearing the Green Beret: A Canadian with the Royal Marine Commandos

by Jake Olafsen

With the authenticity of Jarhead and Bravo Two Zero and the straight-up narrative of Contact Charlie , this military memoir describes what really goes on in the training of an elite soldier and his tours in Afghanistan.

In 2004, Jake Olafsen signed up for the Royal Marines Commandos. He left everything behind at home in Canada on the basis of a spur-of-the-moment decision. The Royal Marines have the toughest and longest basic training of any infantry unit in the world. For Olafson, this meant eight months of wet and cold in England and Wales. It was hell, but he came out with the four Commando qualities that the corps look courage, determination, unselfishness, cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

Olafsen went on to serve for four years as a Commando in the Royal Marines, an elite military unit based in the United Kingdom. He went to Afghanistan in 2006, he went to confront the Taliban in Helmand Province for six months, and in 2007, he was sent to do it all over again. His story is filled with good experiences, like the sense of accomplishment, patriotism, and camaraderie, and the opportunity to travel the world. But all good things come at a price. The sacrifices he made for the Corps are significant; he has killed the enemy and he has buried his friends. And in telling his story, Olafsen hopes that he can make sense of it all. This is an honest, gutsy story about the mud and the blood, the triumphs and the tragedies.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabs you from the start and won't let go. It is a story of a man on an amazing personal adventure, who wanted to serve with the best and had to work his ass off to do it. The training chapters are crazy and the author really brings home the intensity and complexities of the current Afghanistan conflict. A great read and a real eye-opener of what it takes to serve in an elite unit like the Royal Marines.

[Diane Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the experience and because he's a Vancouver Island boy. The book is actually a great read and a real eye-opener as to what is required to be a Royal Marine Commando. The Afghanistan and beyond experiences were riveting and very interesting. Well done, Jake.

[Sal Cannatella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, fast paced and enjoyable. You feel like Olafsen gives you a strikingly real account of what it's like to serve in the Royal Marines. Couldn't put it down.

[Suzette Goldsworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great real account of the reality of a marine and soldier. Being an ex-service person myself I commend Jake for putting his reality while in service down on paper and sharing hopefully for those that dont have any service background to understand just what a soldier goes through in their journey from training to war. No dramatization just reality. Excellent read.

[Claire Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most comprehensive telling of the training regime of a Royal Marine week by week and what it involves to join a unit and then go to war as a fully fledged bootneck. Anyone thinking of a career in the corps should definitely read this.

[Andrew Horsfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining read because its about a guy my age, from near my home, joining the Royal Marine Commandos and going to Afghanistan. The author has a unique and humourous writing style.