The book of the month for February is "The Finishing School: Earning the Navy Seal Trident" by Dick Couch.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400046548/thesealquest-20/002-3050093-8646449?dev-t=mason-wrapper%26camp=2025%26link_code=xm2

Description:

In America's new war, the first guns in the fight are special operations forces, including the Navy SEALs, specially trained warriors who operate with precision, swiftness, and lethal force. In the constantly shifting war on terror, SEAL units--small
in number, flexible, stealthy, and efficient--are more vital than ever to America’s security as they take the battle to an elusive enemy around the globe.

But how are Navy SEALs made? What special training and preparation sharpen the physical skills and intangible character of a regular soldier into that of an elite warrior? In the acclaimed Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch narrated one SEAL class's journey through BUD/S training, the brutal initial course that separates out candidates with the character and stamina necessary to begin training as Navy SEALs. In The Finishing School, Couch follows SEALs into the next levels of training, where they further develop their endurance and strength, but also learn the teamwork and finely honed skills they'll need to fight with the best--and win.

Dick Couch spent six months living with and observing SEALs in training for operational readiness in the months leading up to the Iraqi campaign. He follows them on the ground and in the water as they undergo SEAL Tactical Training, where they master combat skills such as precision shooting, demolitions, secure communications, parachuting, diving, and first aid.

From there, the men enter operational platoons, where they subordinate their individual abilities to the mission of the group and train for special operations in specific geographical environments. Never before has a civilian writer been granted such close access to the training of America’s most elite military forces. The Finishing School is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what goes into the making of America’s best warriors.

I really enjoyed this book.
I brings more of the "job" that's ahead into focus. It also makes very clear that training is never over.
It's not nearly as personal as Warrior Elite.

Makes it a reality that you will be cold, wet, and sandy all the time. That instructor in Alaska is pretty awesome.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Clay Schurwon,

<de-activating lurker mode>

Greetings,

With regards to CAPT. Couch's book "Finishing School" I found it to have two really powerful over-arcing themes that everyone should take to heart: "practice makes perfect" and "what you don't know can kill you".

Every Instructor that participated in the forging of Class 2-02 seem to all say the same things like "When you get to your Team you will do this alot" or "keep doing this and you will find it getting easier" or "never forget to do this and you will save a life." It is more a cheatsheet to surviving as a SEAL and less about learning a bunch of skills in a week or two and being expected to be an expert at the end.

I also found that when one 2-02 class member excelled at one thing, another excelled at something else. This fact really hit home on the confidence course when the best shooter at the Camp Pendleton range was not the best shooter on the Camp Billy Machen 13-mile course. This proves why the SEAL "Team" concept is so important. What you are great at might not be what your buddy is great at. But then you may not be great at what he is excellent at. This shows how skill sets within a SEAL Team overlap each other; compliment each other. No SEAL is an island but together they are deadly! I think CAPT. Couch nailed this point on several occasions.

Additionally, I always suspected that SQT will be intense, but I figured it would be more like the BUD/S process of "me speak - you lesson" one-way check valve type training. It seemed to me that the students in 2-02 were treated more like professionals and less like students -- which I found not only suprising but also very refreshing!

Although SQT does sound difficult (I don't like medics putting IV's in my arm let alone having a fellow knuckle dragger do it!), but it also promises to contain the training all future tadpoles so desire to learn. It is the light at the end of the "BUD/S tunnel" that I look forward to experiencing it head on.

Overall, I would say that this is by far the best book CAPT. Couch has written so far and I look forward to reading his next one.

Cheers,
Leaf


"RISK: A ship in the harbor is safe... but that's not what ships were made for."

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Just finished it today. It closes on a very motivating and strong note. I'll definately re-read this and warrior elite before my participation in BUD/S