The Guerrilla Factory
The Making of Special Forces Officers, the Green Berets
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4.5 • 53 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When America needed a significant military response, especially after 9/11, Schwalm says the first line of security against terror was the warriors of counterinsurgency warfare, the U.S. Army Special Forces, i.e., the Green Berets. The author, a retired lieutenant colonel with the Green Berets who terms these Special Forces soldiers "supermen without equal in the world," details their rigorous training to be "killing machines," beginning with his own difficult passage through the qualification,, or Q, course, at Ft. Bragg, N.C.. Schwalm details the harsh, even brutal contests of physical endurance, will, and tactical resourcefulness of the grunts, driving some soldiers to quit or feign injury to get out of the training. Schwalm himself served as commander of Special Forces officer training, acknowledging the importance of battle-tested guerrilla troops ready for multiple combat deployments throughout the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Forged by experience and headline events from flashpoints around the world, Schwalm's insider perspective on the training for unconventional warfare gives his book a fresh, authentic voice.
Customer Reviews
The Clash of Cultures
As an 18D and later a 18A, I learned, as Tony describes, how critical it is to grasp the importance of cultural differences. Speaking in another man’s language is essential, but being culturally relevant is critical for success in the UW world. When a Green Beret communicates in culture he reaches the soul of his audience. Tony thank you for your stories and insight into our shared experiences.
Inspiring for a Future SFAS Candidate
Sitting with my young family after Christmas, days before I leave to fill my 18x contract, and waiting in anticipation for the unknown into not only the US Army life, but the SOF Community, I relish in the stories Mr. Schwalm has carefully chosen to share. I hope he knows there are not many books like his that will continue to inspire those who seek the Green Beret long after he has passed from this world. Arguably the most significant milestone "in my opinion" in his career is all that has led him to write this books for future generation, after future generation of warriors to defend not only our great Nation, but the entire world. Thank you Sir.