The book of the month for January is The Warrior Elite : The Forging of SEAL Class 228.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400046955/thesealquest-20/103-6692507-7851031?dev-t=mason-wrapper%26camp=2025%26link_code=xm2

If you haven't read this book, Kory recommends it. Read it and lets start a discussion.. If you have already read it, give us your thoughts.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kale Knowles,

I recently read this book and can't recommend it highly enough. Dick Couch seems to really capture the essence of BUD/S. Both the students and instructors are candid in their thoughts and emotions with Mr. Couch. It also appears that he had access to pretty much everything, which I think is amazing. All in all a well thought out and written book, and a great precursor to The Finishing School - Earning the Navy SEAL Trident.

Norm Harrison

If my opinion, if you read just one book before you go to BUD/S, read this. There's so much good info. I was surprised that Obst didn't make it through Second Phase. He was a rock. Just goes to show, nobody is ever safe in BUD/S.

While most of us prospective BUD/S trainees read this book purely for the information. Mom or Dad could pick it up and enjoy it also. Although, Mom might get a little worried when she sees what you will be going through, haha.

I have read both books twice. Very informative and very inspiring.
It's nice to read the "non hollywood" version of what you go through.
The Finishing School does not get as personal with the students as in The Warrior Elite, but it paints a great picture of how training never ends.
The students, even after earning their Trident, are still learning and pushing 110% through every part of their day.
You should read The Finishing School right after The Warrior Elite. You can get caught up in the story of class 228's struggle, but Finishing School sticks more to what it takes to do the actual job.

I liked this book as well. It was a great read even for a SEAL that went back to BUD/S as an First Phase Instructor. There is no place like BUD/S in the world and Dick Couch does an incredible job of bring that world to everyone that reads this book.

When I went through BUD/S back in 1990 I didn't have all this material to read and digest before I got out to Coronado. I watched a 48 Hours show on TV that highlighted HELL Week. That was all I knew. I didn't even know what a SEAL was before that. When I saw that show on TV I went down to the Navy Recruiter and said sign me up. I had just turned 18 and I was ready to go.

At that time the Navy offered a program call the Navy Dive fairer Program, it guaranteed me a shot at BUD/S and a SEAL source rating if I passed the SEAL PST at boot camp. I only had one shot at it. Obviously I passed and I went to WT A School. Only 2 of us did. We were in the same company and both made it through BUD/S.