The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228

Wow! I can not imagine how these young men go though this. They are truly inspiring. Couch's detailed descriptions allow you join these warriors in the making on their journey that forges our elite warriors; the navy seals.

The pain and suffering that a human being will put themselves through to become a Navy Seal is unimaginable. I have so much respect for the Seals because many times they pay the ultimate sacrifice for our country and people in our country just don't get it. God Bless the Navy Seals.

Whether you are a warrior, in business, an athlete or in a career; The Warrior Elite will inspire you to achieve greatness! It is an epic read, that will motivate you to keep pressing on toward your goals and not give up even in the midst of your greatest struggles!

I felt like I was in training and developed even more respect for these men who are impeccably strong (mentally and physically), courageous, brave, intelligent and utterly fearless. The best of the best of the best. Top-notch fellas who can do it all. It's inspirational and entertaining. Loved it

THIS BOOK GIVES YOU THE MOST ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT BUDS IS LIKE COMPARED TO ANY OTHER BOOK THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS. IF YOU WANT TO BE A SEAL AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES THIS WILL HELP PREPARE YOU MENTALLY. THERE ARE A THOUSAND SEAL MOTIVATIONAL ONE LINERS, MY FAVORITE IS "GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE." THAT'S THE GOSPEL. HOOYA 280!

I really like how this material is presented from an observers perspective . It allows the reader to connect with these guys as the progress/ endure through training. I found it very motivating. One thing: don't expect The Finshing School to be as intriguing.

A very descriptive look into what it takes to become one of the best soldiers on the planet. My son wants to be a
SEAL and this book gave me a glimpse of what lies ahead. I definitely recommend it.

Story is very accurate on comraderie between members. Having been in the Army during Vietnam, I know most people don't comprehend what a great family the service actually becomes for the service member.

I thought this book was fantastic, could not put it down. I felt as though I was there with class 228 suffering. I was actually dreading hell week as we got closer to Sunday night and felt a wave of relief as it was finally over. I didn't want the book to end!

A very descriptive look into what it takes to become one of the best soldiers on the planet. My son wants to be a
SEAL and this book gave me a glimpse of what lies ahead. I definitely recommend it.

Story is very accurate on comraderie between members. Having been in the Army during Vietnam, I know most people don't comprehend what a great family the service actually becomes for the service member.

I thought this book was fantastic, could not put it down. I felt as though I was there with class 228 suffering. I was actually dreading hell week as we got closer to Sunday night and felt a wave of relief as it was finally over. I didn't want the book to end!

Not sure how i even came across this book, but am i glad i did. This book is an easy read; but i'm in awe of what these young men go through to become a SEAL...and i glad they do go through they are on our side. If you are looking for a good read, a peak behind the veil of what it takes to become a Warrior, this is for you.

Hands down the best book on training the best warriors that I have ever found. I own a documentary on a BUDS class from day one through graduation, but only Dick Couch could give the prespective, insight, and detail this book contains. I can't recommend a book on this subject any higher than The Warrior Elite.

The NAVY SEALS are the true definition of the word hero in every sense of the way. Five star for the SEALS but the writing style of this author is a 3 too much information as if jotting it down and not breaking it down. Found it very hard to read only thing that got me through it was reading about these heroes.

The book tells you what it is like to go through BUD/s. I would like to have be given some hints on how to survive the experience. The author includes a lot of detail in a chronologic manner but somehow fails in nuance and color. Needs more smells and pain. However, for anyone interested in the teams, this will tell you how it is. Worth the money and the book was received earlier than expected and in fine shape.

Operator 1030

Generally the book was written satisfactorily and is a fast read. Interesting descriptions of the author's experience being an observer of selected periods of a seal's class training. The training seems to be much more intense that I had thought particularly the swimming requirements. Unfortunately, the book seems to be some ploy, maybe by an "x" seal who made into republican politics, to essentially complain about how the seals are funded and the politics of the issues outside, what I thought, was the scope of the book. Of course there is never enough money for everything everyone wants but the book should have stayed with its initial premise rather than go off course into politics. If it had not been for this aspect of the book I would have added another star to the review.

The Warrior Elite, written by Dean Couch, is an excellent account of the type of training that makes a Navy Seal. The author is with class 228 from start to finish, detailing how many there are (and most of the time how many are left), what they are doing, how they are doing it, and why.

The book is a page-turner for sure and, though in itself interesting stuff, the author doesn't detract at all from the suspense, challenge, and ultimate victory (for some) that entails Navy Seal training. In fact, the author's no-nonsense layout of the training fits the subject matter perfectly. Seen through his eyes, the story of class 228 is stripped of all non-essential happenings, leaving you and I--the readers--with the ability to focus on the struggle and the people struggling.

Speaking for myself, this makes the book much more interesting, and it makes the ultimate value of this book for a general audience much more realizable. Knowing what makes an "elite warrior" on the battlefield is helpful if one wants to be a master of their own trade, whatever that is. In detailing the class of 228's training, Couch gives his readers exactly that knowledge--though it's up to each reader to induce the general principles.

Here's my recommendation: When you catch yourself starting to whine about how hard your everyday life is or when you are wondering what it would take to really master your profession, stop by your local bookstore, pick up this book, take a rest, and then witness the making of Navy Seal class 228. You will see pretty quickly how easy your life is in comparison, and you will be shown the path to success in any field: precise, clear thinking, lots of hard work, repetition, and persistence.

The training to become a US Navy SEAL is one of the toughest programs of any special operations unit in the world. From what I've read, the only other units that might come close or match the SEAL training is perhaps the Air Force's Pararescue and Combat Controllers program.
This book affords us a rare opportunity into the world of the basic training stages of SEAL candidates. Basic Underwater Demolition and SEAL training (BUD/S) is approximately 6 months but as pointed out in this book, it takes at least a year of training to become a full-fledged Navy SEAL. After one finishes BUD/S, he must go for SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and function as part of a SEAL team for another six months before he is eligible to receive his coveted SEAL trident pin. BUD/S is the focus of this book however. We get to know a number of SEAL candidates fairly well from the first day of indoctrination to the final day of BUD/S and beyond. Class 228 began with 114 trainees who were selected from a much larger group of applicants. Of those 114, only 10 of them managed to go straight through all of the phases and graduate. The majority seem to volitarily drop out of the program at some point in the program (particularly during the infamous "hell week"). Anyone can volitarily quit and any time in the training by simply telling an instructor "I quit". Trainees quit for a number of reasons, but some of the more common reasons are because of the constant exposure to cold water and the inordinate lengths of time trainees must stay awake. The trainees body temperatures are allowed to drop to what most medical professionals would regard as dangerously low. Trainees passing out in the pool is not uncommon in BUD/S. Some of the trainees begin to hallucinate and become irrational and delirious from sleep deprivation.
The focus on certain trainees makes this book all the more compelling. We meet a young man who wants to become a SEAL very badly but he's dropped for not being able to meet the physical demands. There is another man who is trying BUD/S for the second time; he's very strong and has no problem with most of the training evolutions but he eventually gets a pulmonary edema and hence is forced out of the program. Then there's a man who doesn't seem to have a weakness at all and breezes through everything until he's forced out of the program due to sinus problems.
I'll stop and leave with a quote from this book which I found interesting:
"warriorship is as much a tempering of the spirit as a physical rendering"

This is absolutely the best book on BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL) Training that I have ever read. Most of the SEAL training you hear about is the infamous Hell Week. This book does an excellent job of showing you that Hell Week is merely a speed bump in a SEAL's training.
Retired Captain Dick Couch is a 1967 graduate of the US Naval Academy and Honorman of BUD/S Class 45. In this book, he takes the reader through all six months and three phases of BUD/S. Due to training requirements, he isn't really allowed to fraternize with the BUD/S trainees, but he does a good job of portraying some of the students of Class 228. So much so, in fact, that I found myself getting a bit choked up reading about their graduation ceremony. It felt like I was there, sitting proudly in the audience as I watched a family member or friend graduating from BUD/S.
It's amazing that you learn that the average SEAL is not a hulking mass of muscle like you would be apt to think. Many are under 6 feet tall and weigh in the area of 160-170 pounds. Certainly not the stereotypical Rambo-like visage one would expect (note: Rambo was a Green Beret, not a SEAL; you will also find out through other reading that most Green Berets are not like Rambo, either). One learns that what separates these elite men from others who fail the BUD/S course is heart, will, and determination. Strength, stamina, and endurance are important, but the strongest and fastest do not always make it. It is the heart of these warriors that stands above others.
Couch takes it a step further and touches upon post BUD/S training, the future of Navy SEALs and their possible role in the war on terrorism, following the 9/11 tragedies.
He mentions in this book that he is currently working on a new SEAL book scheduled for release in the spring of 2004. "It follows the path of a BUD/S graduate as he earns his SEAL qualification and prepares for operational deployment with his SEAL platoon. As with 'The Warrior Elite', [he is] following a group of men through their advanced SEAL training--the training BUD/S graduates must successfully complete before they are awarded their Naval Special Warfare Insignia, the Trident...[he is] also oberserving SEAL platoons and SEAL teams preparing for operational deployment." I can't wait for this new book!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to potential SEAL candidates and anyone interested in the training of this elite fighting force.

I thought the author did a great job covering all aspect of the training up to graduation of buds. He had an insiders view of the training and how it has developed throughout the years. This is because he is a graduate of the schools.
Very pleased with the purchase and, just purchased his book “The finishing school.”

With so many books out on Navy SEALs and their training it is hard to know where to even start. This has to be the number one choice.
The Warrior Elite goes into great depth of the first three phases of SEAL training. Dick Couch is a former Navy SEAL himself. He was allowed to have total access to a BUD/S class from start to finish. This BUD/S class took place in 1999. His notes and observations are very detailed and well laid out. What I really liked is that he did not get to in depth about his SEAL training experience that he went through in the Vietnam era. He added a few things here and there comparing to what he did versus what he observed in the class he was following, but he never comes off as someone who is critical of the new generation. There is a ton of information in this book. Couch does a great job of picking out the highlights of the six month long course yet not getting to into detail in a way that would slow the reading pace down. The whole story really reads like an adventure story.
I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in this topic. I would ignore some of the more recent publications and read Dick Couch's trilogy of SEAL books first before anything else on the topic(Warrior Elite, Finishing School, Down Range).

I can't say enough about this book. This book should be required reading for all military. Dick Couch takes you from the time they report in to indoctrination through all the phases and what happens to them after graduation. As a former Marine, I wished I had read this book before leaving the Corps in '97 "after feeling sorry for myself" for all the stuff I put off with. One thing I never realized was how many Marines resigned or leave the Corps, joined the Navy for a "chance" to be a SEAL. The Corps part of the Dept of the Navy. THe Commandant and the Secretary of the Navy should get together to offer this opprotunity to Marines so they don't risk Professional suicide trying to be a SEAL as it stands now. One story about a Marine officer resigning to enlist in the Navy blew me away. I don't know whether I should praise him or call him a fool. Also, Class 228 feature the first black to graduate BUDS in years. The author for whatever reason did not point this milestone out and only mentioned him in passing. Book is still good. I'll read it over and over whenever I need motivation and start feeling "sorry" for myself. Add this with the video of Class 234 and I have the complete Seal experience without trying out for them. Marines should READ this book!! Don't let the fact it's a Navy book keep you away. The NCO sword use to belong to the Army. Learn all you can especially when the the Saber is rattling. Semper FI

This was a great book, and I nearly gave it five stars. It's a detailed observation of Navy SEAL training, written by a man who was once a SEAL himself. Incredibly informative, the author's finest moment (in my opinion) is when he breaks down the reasons why some men succeed in BUD/S, and some Drop On Request. The instructors don't even take bets as to which candidates will remain at the end of training, because all too often they are surprised.

So why only four stars? Because the book really doesn't go beyond being an "observation." As a reader, you may feel like you are watching the action, but you don't feel as if you are actually there. Couch doesn't get inside the thoughts or emotions of the men involved very often; he mainly just reports what he sees.

As one other reviewer noted, "Inside Delta Force" by Eric Haney delivers exciting content with a writing style that really puts you in the middle of the action--I highly recommend that book, as well.

"The Warrior Elite" is definitely worth reading, especially if you're looking to join the SEALs. (It's good to know what you're in for.) A good companion to this book is the Discovery Channel documentary about the Navy SEALs. After reading this book, you can check out the documentary for a good visual of all the stuff you just read about. It's not as detailed, of course, but a great way to round out the whole experience.

I've read a couple of books on SEALs, but this book blasts most of 'em out of the water. Couch follows the class from First Phase to graduation. He identifies specific personalities, giving quite a human connection to the men involved.

This is a fascinating account; Couch captures the details ("I'll never eat another Snickers bar") as well as the broader elements of training.

Really, this book, the men, and the experiences in it are incredibly inspiring. The ideas that you can push yourself further than ever thought possible, that you can do more, that it is possible to never ever give up, the sense of absolute dedication, taking things one day, one hour at a time are amazing. They come through here in a way they haven't in devotional books I've read; here they are real.

I came away from this book having learned more than just about BUD/S and SEAL training (which are interesting enough to read about by themselves). It's definitely, absolutely, worth a read, and worth a buy.

CAPT Couch's account of the officers and men of BUD/S Class 228 is a masterpiece. The class, which began with 147 members and ended with only 10 original members graduating, is followed from Indoc through all three training phases to graduation and beyond. BUD/S training is the most strenuous and demanding in all the world's military and completing it is the first requirement for those aspiring to be SEALs. What most who have no experience with Navy Special Warfare don't know is that just finishing BUD/S does not make one a SEAL. The training, as CAPT Couch shows, never stops. Once assigned to a Team, there is still a probationary period and failing to meet standards can lead to expulsion. Gaining the coveted Trident (the SEAL pin, also called "The Bird") is no sure thing either; the fledgling warriors having to pass a review board of their peers.
This is not just another "gosh, what harsh training!" book. Told in a straight-forward style, the process is presented for what it is with no embellishment or histrionics. As good as the training descriptions are, the last chapter and epilogue are almost perfect evocations of the warrior ethos, its development, future and nurturing by leaders who have all been tested in the same way. The value of the experienced chiefs and senior petty officers is highlighted; truly they are the institutional knowledge of the Teams.
The SEALs I have known and worked with were all quiet professionals, dedicated men who did the hard things that their country demanded. The younger SEALs are the same: willing to go in harm's way, to risk death for all the right reasons. They are truly an elite, even among the other special operations forces. This book lets you know how they got to be the way they are.
HOOYAH!

I first became interested in the Navy SEALs during a Learning Channel 5-part series that follows class 324 thru BUD/s (Basic Underwater Demolition, Seal training) To see the various evolutions these young men had to go thru was inspiring. Thus when I was on Coronado Island I decided I had to get a book that dug deeper into the forging of a Navy SEAL. I was recommended this book by the owner of a Coronado bookstore. Dick Couch, the author and former Navy SEAL was given access to BUD/s class 228 to tell the story of the men who make it to graduation and beyond. Throughtout the book you get a real sense of what it would be like to go thru the training, and all the internal thoughts that you need to fight off to make it. There is a great deal of detail put into Indoc., First Phase, Hell Week, Second Phase and Third Phase. While that entails all phases of BUD/s graduation there is much more training ahead for the graduates, that most likely gets told in Finishing School.
I highly recommend this book, to at the bare minimum understand the trials these men go thru, and at the max. to push yourself to achieve things you never thought possible.

Before I read this book, I had the idea that all SEALs are: fearless, 6-2, 210 pounds, and musclebound, with no doubts. This book really shows you that these guys are young "kids" who are really normal people, like you and me. Look at the photos of them. They look like anybody. Most are not "huge" by today's [steroid] standards. In fact, the book makes the point that they do it the "natural" way, with no creatine, no steroids (creatine can get you killed in SEAL training, as it can on the football field). I wish all young American men red this book at 16 or 17, to understand that you can do miraculous things with your body, without chemical "help". The intro. details a SEAL wartime operation in Grenada in 1983, in which the young SEALs are afraid for their lives. The real fear of war came through to me, not the "gung ho" movie stuff. I also thought that at age 39, I am "too old" to be at their level. But there have been SEALs as old as 39 who went through BUD/s ! This taught me that it is a cop-out to say "I am too old to train hard". What I am trying to say is, this book is very real, and shows these guys are just "normal guys", but they do incredible things. I found it really uplifting, oddly, because of what it depicts. But the human mind is so strong, if it is focused. Thank God we have young men like this in our country, too.

The most common word in this book is not "the", "a", or any other word you would think of. Rather, it's "push-ups!"

Couch has a gift of bringing text to life that makes this one of the few books that is hard to put down. Page after page, he is able to show the pain and agony that some incredibly bright, strong, and talented young men go through just to call themselves a Navy SEAL.

One example that I found quite astonishing was the amount of push-ups these men do. At one point, Couch makes note that by a "conservative count" of his, they have done 600 push-ups in an hour. More surprisingly, this hour was not atypical. In the TV documentary, you get the idea that they do a lot of push-ups, but this simple statement by Couch makes you realize that these young men are in a completely different league. Even Hercules would have trouble keeping up with them. And I don't think that is an exaggeration.

If you've seen the TV documentary, read this book. If not, watch it first, and THEN read this book. Believe it or not, you will enjoy the book even more.

After reading Lone Survivor, I became absolutely enamored with Navy SEALs. I wanted to learn as much as I could about these awe-inspiring people and truly remarkable heroes. I was fascinated by the brief overview of the training, and I was hoping to learn as much as I could about it.

Dick Couch did exactly what I was hoping someone had done. He gave an excellent, detailed, overview of Navy SEAL training by following around SEAL class 228. In doing so, he was able to do what the trainees couldn't -- document and keep track of what actually happened.

In addition to telling what happened during training, Couch also introduced us different trainees, and we got to know them and understand them a bit better. He also frequently gave his valuable insights into questions we all wonder, such as "What does it take for a man to get through BUD/S and become a Navy SEAL?"

This book made me want to be a better man, and I recommend it with all my heart.

I will say from first hand experience this book along with the Discovery Channel documentary "Buds Class 234" are by far the best source materials on exactly what you should be prepared to expect if and when you go to BUD/S. The book will be an invaluable resource to read over and over until you class up and the documentary will give you the visual tools you need to build a concrete image in your mind of the evolutions you will be preforming daily. I was in class 228 when Captain Couch started this book and these are the men I trained with and the instructors that taught/hammered us. Unfortunately I had to DOR due to medical issues and to be fair I was some what under prepared (mentally)for the full intensity of the program. When I joined the Navy in 1999 there was very little available material outside of official Navy literature on what went on at BUD/S, remember the internet was still in it's infancy at that time and the SEALs still shrouded in mystery. Most of what you could read was more or less general information and people you talked to about it didn't know much if anything or they just plain made up BS, hell it wasn't even clear if you could ever go back and try again if you didn't make it the first time. I still don't exactly know how he did it, but Captain Couch has managed to capture as close to a play by play account of going through the daily challenges of the weeks and months that you will have to survive at BUD/S on your journey to becoming a Navy SEAL. I can only wish this manual had been written prior to starting on my quest that was never fulfilled. From what I understand now there is actually a separate boot camp for new enlistees who are scheduled to go to BUD/S upon graduation which I'm sure would really help prepare ones self both physically and mentally, the later part is even more important than the former. If I could give one piece of advice to those who take on the challenge and make it to BUD/S, don't dwell on the program as a whole from the time perspective, just think in terms of making it through one day at a time and always keep a positive attitude even when what you're doing sucks. Good luck gentlemen!!!

Dick Couch, being a former SEAL, follows the Class of 228 in the '90s to document BUD/S training. BUD/S is among the toughest, if not the toughest school you can take part in the military on an international scale, because it deals with spending long days in the water. If you look at other schools, they all have something to do with land exercises and being miserable, but BUD/S is one that pits man against a natural fear - the possibility of drowning. Candidates are taught how to be more comfortable in water than on land, and this makes the SEALs the best choice for water operations, and they are good enough to hold their own on land with other special operators. Dick has to ask himself and others how training has changed, whether it has gotten harder or easier since his days in the Vietnam era. When Dick went to BUD/S, the U.S. was in a war and needed SEALs as soon as they graduated, lowering the quality of BUD/S graduates somewhat. However Dick maintains that they are all brothers no matter the time, and you can find this high esprit de corps throughout all his books. Everyone is on the same team fighting for a common cause. It lists BUD/S training in detail and is recommended for those who want to attend it to get a sense of what they're getting into. Highly recommended to see how SEALs get made.

This book should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking about attempting to acquire the Trident Pin. Warrior Elite is very well written and is easy to follow. Towards the end he does tend to go into too much detail but by an large he keeps the reader very interested. It is no wonder why only 13% of the original class of 228 successfully made it through without setbacks. You don't have to be a military veteran (which I am a proud one) to appreciate this book. If anything, the reader is given countless reasons to appreciate these extraordinary men. From indoctrination to all three phases, Couch provides the reader details of exactly what these gentlemen go through. Outstanding book that I guarantee will keep your attention -- that or you'll be doing push-ups.

There are lots of books on SEALs out there, some good, most bad, very few great. This is one of the great ones. Why? Because it takes a theme that has been done to death, the training of the Navy SEALs, and writes what is probably the definitive book on the subject while doing what none of the other books has done. For the first time, a book follows the trainees through BUDs, through Hell Week, and keeps going all of the way to the assignment to an active team. It emphasizes the fact that the vaunted Hell Week, long portrayed as the horrible endurance contest that it is, is in fact just one of the gut checks along the way to becoming a SEAL. It's not a magical peak where everything after is easy, it's a point that weeds out many but is more preparation for the rigors ahead than a line to cross. To put it bluntly, there is no need to write another book on the training of the Navy SEALs, this is the final word. If you have dreams of becoming a SEAL, read this book. There is much wisdom in these pages. Ever think that "your reputation begins at BUDs"? You'll learn that here.
Finally, a book that reaches the levels set by books such as "Brave Men, Dark Waters" and "Class-29 : The Making of U.S. Navy SEALs". Well written, insightful, and just simply excellent. Buy this book!
Matt

"The Warrior Elite" is about the mission and training of Navy SEALS. It was written by Dick Couch, who was a SEAL himself, led a platoon of SEALs in Vietnam, and knows the subject by heart. This book takes you into the remarkable training and daunting mission of the SEALS; it gives the reader a mind blowing first-hand account of the grueling process of forging a team of professional warriors. I couldn't put the book down. It starts with a bang and kept me breathless for the entire story. The book is jam packed with insights into SEAL training, weapons, and capabilities. It also reassuring: we've got some really tough, good guys going after the really bad actors around the world. And for that reason, it's a very timely book.

Great book about one BUD/S class as they work through an unbelievable training program.
This is the third book of Couch's and I liked them all. For a former SEAL, he is also a great writer.
"Seal Team One" was fantastic in my opinion.

Thanks for your service Mr. Couch!

The Warrior Elite is an absolutely great book if you find the Navy, SEALs, or just anything military interesting. Also a great read if you love to challenge yourself and see what you're made of. Filled with great descriptions of how BUD/S will make an ordinary everyday man into a fighting, diving, shooting, operator. A review stated something along the lines of "Why were the students allowed to get away with so many things?" Well the simple answer is a lot of the little things, like swimming candy bars a mile out into the freezing bay to give to Hell Week students, were allowed cause it builds teamwork. One of the biggest things that BUD/S teaches students is the fact that the teams are always more important than yourself. That is a constantly embedded, recurring factor in this book. A few reviews in here didn't like the book because it didn't go into any great detail about the men in the book. It was never supposed to, and I'm glad it didn't. Once again, BUD/S is about building team players not individuals.

All in all, this is a great read for anyone. Highly recommended.

This is the easily the best book out there on BUD/S training. It is almost a play by play of the training of BUD/S class 228. The pacing and details of the book are just right--it kept me interested throughout. The author does a great job explaining and describing the training--but he is also a good writer too. If you want to know what this training is about or you aspire to be a SEAL, you should read this book.

Dick Couch, a former SEAL, takes an in depth look at the BUD/S, the training school that future SEALs must go through. I am an avid Navy SEAL fan and have read as much as I can on the subject. This is THE book I would recomend if somebody asked me which ONE book they should read on SEALs. After having learned about what a SEAL must go through to earn his Trident Pin (the official point at which you are a SEAL) I only have more respect for those men.
As a former SEAL, Couch gets an unprecident look at this school. He is the only author I know of who has been allowed to truly document the training from Indoc (the first training session) all they way through their first deployment. You get a close look at the four phases of training and not only do you see WHAT they do, but Couch interviews many of the trainees and reveils what they are thinking and what keeps them going (or not as the case may be) despite being cold, wet, tired, hungry and in pain. What was especially interesting was the section on Hell Week. A period when the trainees must work for five straight days with only about four hours of sleep total. Of the 60 or so trainees who made it to the begining of Hell Week, only 15 or so made it out.
I consider this book a must have for anybody who is a SEAL buff. However, I also believe that it was a wider appeal as a look at the pysche of men who never, ever stop trying no matter how hard the situation.

Ever wonder if you would be able to make it through SEAL school ??

This will make you think long and hard about it.

If you can make it through the fitness tests, and the skills tests and the water tests, all the time having a fresh set of Instructors in your face, everytime you breath wrong.

You get to "try" and make it through "Hell Week", not many do.....

Having been a "guest" Instructor, I can say, this book is as close as you can come to being in SEAL school, without being a "sand cookie".

I think one of Dick Couch's great strengths as an author is his ability to put us in there and help us get to know the people in his pages. Warrior Elite was exceptional for that reason. I have a huge amount of respect for SOF and seeing what these guys go through to be selected and prepared for their work only deepens that respect. Couch's style is not overly "military." The book is easy to read and truly enjoyable. You don't have to have a lot of knowledge going into it, but people who really know their stuff will appreciate the attention to detail shown by the author.

I was in 228, got rolled to 229 after twice failing the Survival Swim (one of the 'easy' evolutions), got injured and quit. 238 I just got injured and quit, and two years later my back is still messed up. Whopdeedo, eh? Not much to brag about, but I do know that Mr. Couch did a good job, though he missed a few things. One of those things is exactly how we did our surf-runs that first PT on the first day of trng. Too funny to print, I guess.
Good book, though. If anyone knows how to get ahold of Harry Pell, one of the best guys ever not to make the Teams, tell him parl2001 at yahoo is looking for him.
And, just in case anyone believed that earlier review, this book does not take place during "the Vietnam Era," but rather in the fall of 1999.

EDIT Aug 2006: back still jacked, and the other reviewer was right about the dam academy bias. oh well. academy grads take care of their own I guess. Mr Couch is still one helluva man and a good writer.

I read accounts of war adventures in this book that I was totally unaware of. The books tells the stories of special ops in all branches of service who have done daring things on behalf of their country. It's a riveting read and it's hard to put the book down. In light of the recent loss of many Navy Seals and also the killing of Bin Lauden by special ops, this book is timely.

Highly recommended.

== Susanna K. Hutcheson

This book is no joke. A SEAL wannabee myself, I found myself questioning whether I had the pure guts it takes to finish this thing. If you haven't fallen flat on your face from exhaustion and your not dead, then you haven't given it your all. That's the most important point I took away from this book. I would suggest the follow up book to this one, "The finishing school". It's about the SQT following BUD/s. It's dry if your not interested in becoming a SEAL, but informative if you are.

I've read several great books about SEALs and their training, and, as a middle-aged guy in pretty good shape who never served in the military, I wondered, like so many men, if I could have survived BUD/S. No, I couldn't have. I know that now, after reading The Warrior Elite. This book, written from a privileged and intimate viewpoint by a Vietnam-era SEAL, reveals in literally excruciating detail how demanding and relentless the training is. I was not surprised that the flamboyantly macho and musclebound contenders are the first to drop out, or that the quietly determined, average-build guys are the ones who make it.
However, I was surprised at how unforgiving the process is as far as dealing with physical injury. I was stunned that the one guy, who was just a machine, a leader, never tiring, never complaining, always performing as a leader, was let go because of a sinus infection. It seemed an egregious waste of an outstanding soldier due to something completely beyond his control. No one in the Mekong Delta ever got sick? No one in Desert Storm was ever injured or ill? I'm all for rigorous standards but jettisoning this particular guy because of a sinus infection seemed bone-headed and counterproductive.
Anyhow, now I know I wouldn't have made it. The first time I was made to take a dip in the ice slush with my pants full of sand after no sleep at three in the morning I believe I could have easily rung the bell and run for the showers.
An enjoyable book.

The content itself: "Navy SEAL Training", is certainly guaranteed to suck you in but the book is also highly readable and like a novel, difficult to put down. I remember SEAL training once being described as "The most intensive and most extensive training that the American military has to offer!" After reading this excellent chronicle of SEAL class 228, you'll better understand that statement.

The Warrior Elite is an absolutely great book if you find the Navy, SEALs, or just anything military interesting. Also a great read if you love to challenge yourself and see what you're made of. Filled with great descriptions of how BUD/S will make an ordinary everyday man into a fighting, diving, shooting, operator. A review stated something along the lines of "Why were the students allowed to get away with so many things?" Well the simple answer is a lot of the little things, like swimming candy bars a mile out into the freezing bay to give to Hell Week students, were allowed cause it builds teamwork. One of the biggest things that BUD/S teaches students is the fact that the teams are always more important than yourself. That is a constantly embedded, recurring factor in this book. A few reviews in here didn't like the book because it didn't go into any great detail about the men in the book. It was never supposed to, and I'm glad it didn't. Once again, BUD/S is about building team players not individuals.

All in all, this is a great read for anyone. Highly recommended.

This is the easily the best book out there on BUD/S training. It is almost a play by play of the training of BUD/S class 228. The pacing and details of the book are just right--it kept me interested throughout. The author does a great job explaining and describing the training--but he is also a good writer too. If you want to know what this training is about or you aspire to be a SEAL, you should read this book.

Dick Couch, a former SEAL, takes an in depth look at the BUD/S, the training school that future SEALs must go through. I am an avid Navy SEAL fan and have read as much as I can on the subject. This is THE book I would recomend if somebody asked me which ONE book they should read on SEALs. After having learned about what a SEAL must go through to earn his Trident Pin (the official point at which you are a SEAL) I only have more respect for those men.
As a former SEAL, Couch gets an unprecident look at this school. He is the only author I know of who has been allowed to truly document the training from Indoc (the first training session) all they way through their first deployment. You get a close look at the four phases of training and not only do you see WHAT they do, but Couch interviews many of the trainees and reveils what they are thinking and what keeps them going (or not as the case may be) despite being cold, wet, tired, hungry and in pain. What was especially interesting was the section on Hell Week. A period when the trainees must work for five straight days with only about four hours of sleep total. Of the 60 or so trainees who made it to the begining of Hell Week, only 15 or so made it out.
I consider this book a must have for anybody who is a SEAL buff. However, I also believe that it was a wider appeal as a look at the pysche of men who never, ever stop trying no matter how hard the situation.

Ever wonder if you would be able to make it through SEAL school ??

This will make you think long and hard about it.

If you can make it through the fitness tests, and the skills tests and the water tests, all the time having a fresh set of Instructors in your face, everytime you breath wrong.

You get to "try" and make it through "Hell Week", not many do.....

Having been a "guest" Instructor, I can say, this book is as close as you can come to being in SEAL school, without being a "sand cookie".

I think one of Dick Couch's great strengths as an author is his ability to put us in there and help us get to know the people in his pages. Warrior Elite was exceptional for that reason. I have a huge amount of respect for SOF and seeing what these guys go through to be selected and prepared for their work only deepens that respect. Couch's style is not overly "military." The book is easy to read and truly enjoyable. You don't have to have a lot of knowledge going into it, but people who really know their stuff will appreciate the attention to detail shown by the author.

I was in 228, got rolled to 229 after twice failing the Survival Swim (one of the 'easy' evolutions), got injured and quit. 238 I just got injured and quit, and two years later my back is still messed up. Whopdeedo, eh? Not much to brag about, but I do know that Mr. Couch did a good job, though he missed a few things. One of those things is exactly how we did our surf-runs that first PT on the first day of trng. Too funny to print, I guess.
Good book, though. If anyone knows how to get ahold of Harry Pell, one of the best guys ever not to make the Teams, tell him parl2001 at yahoo is looking for him.
And, just in case anyone believed that earlier review, this book does not take place during "the Vietnam Era," but rather in the fall of 1999.

EDIT Aug 2006: back still jacked, and the other reviewer was right about the dam academy bias. oh well. academy grads take care of their own I guess. Mr Couch is still one helluva man and a good writer.

I read accounts of war adventures in this book that I was totally unaware of. The books tells the stories of special ops in all branches of service who have done daring things on behalf of their country. It's a riveting read and it's hard to put the book down. In light of the recent loss of many Navy Seals and also the killing of Bin Lauden by special ops, this book is timely.

Highly recommended.

== Susanna K. Hutcheson

This book is no joke. A SEAL wannabee myself, I found myself questioning whether I had the pure guts it takes to finish this thing. If you haven't fallen flat on your face from exhaustion and your not dead, then you haven't given it your all. That's the most important point I took away from this book. I would suggest the follow up book to this one, "The finishing school". It's about the SQT following BUD/s. It's dry if your not interested in becoming a SEAL, but informative if you are.

I've read several great books about SEALs and their training, and, as a middle-aged guy in pretty good shape who never served in the military, I wondered, like so many men, if I could have survived BUD/S. No, I couldn't have. I know that now, after reading The Warrior Elite. This book, written from a privileged and intimate viewpoint by a Vietnam-era SEAL, reveals in literally excruciating detail how demanding and relentless the training is. I was not surprised that the flamboyantly macho and musclebound contenders are the first to drop out, or that the quietly determined, average-build guys are the ones who make it.
However, I was surprised at how unforgiving the process is as far as dealing with physical injury. I was stunned that the one guy, who was just a machine, a leader, never tiring, never complaining, always performing as a leader, was let go because of a sinus infection. It seemed an egregious waste of an outstanding soldier due to something completely beyond his control. No one in the Mekong Delta ever got sick? No one in Desert Storm was ever injured or ill? I'm all for rigorous standards but jettisoning this particular guy because of a sinus infection seemed bone-headed and counterproductive.
Anyhow, now I know I wouldn't have made it. The first time I was made to take a dip in the ice slush with my pants full of sand after no sleep at three in the morning I believe I could have easily rung the bell and run for the showers.
An enjoyable book.

The content itself: "Navy SEAL Training", is certainly guaranteed to suck you in but the book is also highly readable and like a novel, difficult to put down. I remember SEAL training once being described as "The most intensive and most extensive training that the American military has to offer!" After reading this excellent chronicle of SEAL class 228, you'll better understand that statement.

This book is very well written and fascinating to read. Couch follows Class 228 from start to finish, and you really connect with the individuals. The chapter on Hell Week alone is worth the read. If you want to know what SEAL training is like--this is your book.

I did find the last chapter on SEAL history very boring, so I skipped it.

The true story of how the world's toughest and best fighting teams are molded - one day at a time. It is an extremely well-written, fast-paced account giving us a rare glimpse into the making of Navy SEALS. The chapter on Hell Week alone is worth the price of admission.
This is one book where the journalistic and writing skills of the author places the reader smack in the middle of the action. I felt as if I was living the experience of the officer and enlisted trainees as they endured bitterly cold ocean temperatures, endless physical training, and numerous psychological uncertainties. The joy of graduation day for those who finish is impossible to fathom for an outsider, but the author managed to project the feelings and emotions to the extent that I was grinning and yelling HOOYAH in my living room!
Captain Couch has written an outstanding book that every American can be proud of. Its timing is obvious--no doubt some of the fine young men described in the book are laying it on the line in Afghanistan and points elsewhere as we speak. There are plenty of lessons for life and business within the story of SEAL Class 228--stuff that can be applied by everyone who strives to be the best, persevere, and contribute as a team player. Hopefully many of our esteemed civic and political leaders, present and future, will pick up a copy.
As for the graduates of SEAL Class 228 and their brethern, let's jusy say that after reading The Warrior Elite, I believe you will realize how fortunate we are to have them on our side.

I'm female and I LOVED this book! Navy Seals are the tip of the spear! They are able to stike without warning, anytime, anywhere. They come from under the sea, out of the air, and across land. Read this book and find out what it takes to become a Navy Seal. What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep. This book follows the trainees of class 228 as they struggle through the 27 week Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal (BUDS)..AWESOME..A must read!

Dick Couch gives a great in depth perspective into BUD/S Training. he goes over all of the phases of BUD/S in this book. And I mean the 28 weeks of BUD/S, not the 6-month training after you graduate from BUD/S. Every phase is tough and everyone is nervous, some so nervous they dropped out even before the Indoc phase started. The instructors are nice, and understanding but firm when they have to be. The give the SEALs to be advice to follow to make BUD/S easier (not much easier though). Like when you swim in the pool stay near the bottom, this way you can hold your breath longer, and which ever boat crew wins the IBS race dosn't have to "push'em out" with the other teams, this teaches the SEALs that it pays to be a winner. It also gave me some perspectives that are hard to come by, if you make fun of a guy for quiting BUD/S they drill instructors make you pay, big time. I recomend this book for anyone who wants to join the Navy's elite SEAL teams, or anyone who is interested in SOF stuff at all. After reading this I now have more respect for the SEALs than I ever had before.

I really wanted to go to BUD/S when i was in the Navy, but i have terrible shin splints. This book makes me so envious of these young guys, but also makes me realize that I would have had a tough time making it through without developing stress fractures. BUD/S is really a tough selection course and this book really makes you respect the guys who make it. Some of the toughest in Class 228 didn't make it due to sometimes no more than bad luck. If you want a detailed description of part of the difficult road of becoming a Navy SEAL check this out. It's very good.

This is an unparalleled look at what it takes to become a SEAL. At times it can be too detailed for the average civilian reader but if you are a young man with aspirations of becoming one of the elite this book will not only give you all you need to prepare but perhaps terrorize you a bit as we'll. Consider it a screening test. I read it as an older man, constantly testing my memory and wondering if I could have made it. It doesn't frighten me though. I would have loved to have had a chance.

One comment on editing. There are quite a few typos.

As a nephew of a SEAL 1 Vietnam Veteran, Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what BUD/S training was all about until I stumbled across Mr. Couch's well written precise book.
From day one of a soldiers dream to become a Navy SEAL, this book takes you where no others have even attempted. The author, a former Frogman himself, was allowed inside to document this sadistic ritual of stamina, mental strength, self discipline, and physical endurance as BUD/S Class 228 forms with 114 men who dream of wearing the sacred Navy Trident, a symbol of America's Elite Sea,Air,and Land Warrior's. There is one way out, ring the bell, follow class 228 and see what fortitude it takes to keep one's hand off the bell tower.
Upon reading this book, one will have a new insight of what a Navy SEAL is about. As Television and Hollywood Movies build a superhero style character on the big screen, you will be surprised at how many make the journey, and yet, the average size of those who suceed average just 5'9, 160 lbs. SEAL BUD/S training is a full blown gut check, and this book is surely to become your favorite! Much Respect to All Frogman! Hoo Yaa!

This chronicles an exhaustive review of modern day SeAL development and training. So much so that I had to take a "medical" from how well Captain Couch depicted every evolution, to every swollen joint and sleep deprived hallucination, these men kept going to accomplish the mission. One cannot but be floored by the level of dedication and commitment of these young men, to endure the most "hellacious" test of the human spirit. To be the best our Warriors have to put up with the worst. These men do it without any modern day pronouncements of political correctness, lowered standards based on race or ethnicity, or ashamedly no such notion of "an Army of one." These men win together, are the best and the brightest, and I thank God they are Americans. I wouldn't want to be be on the other side knowing there might be a few SeALs on the loose.

I have read many books on the training of Navy SEAL's, and this is by far THE best that I have seen. The level of detail that Dick Couch goes to in describing the process of becoming a SEAL is incredible. Written from both the student's perspective, and the instructor's perspective, it gives you an amazing look at why the training is conducted the way it is. Most books leave you with the impression that surviving Hell Week is the end game. This book takes you through diving phase, as well as land warfare phase . It was amazing to me to learn that even some tough SOB's who made it through Hell Week, and even diving phase, get washed out in third phase as the standards go up. If you are thinking about becoming a SEAL, or just a SEAL enthusiast like me, this book is a must read!

Regardless of your politics, if you truly want to better understand those who help protect you liberty, read this book. It portrays what men who are America's finest go through in order to become everything the word "elite" defines. Thank you Dick Couch.

One cannot but be floored by the level of dedication and commitment of these young men, to endure the most "hellacious" test of the human spirit. To be the best our Warriors have to put up with the worst. These men do it without any modern day pronouncements of political correctness, lowered standards based on race or ethnicity, or ashamedly no such notion of "an Army of one." These men win together, are the best and the brightest, and I thank God they are Americans.

After reading this book, you will have a good understanding of just what it takes to be a SEAL.
The book is supplemented with many color photos, to give you just a taste of the real life behind those mental images you have built up.
This is a MUST READ for SEAL enthusiasts and fans of hard charging, tough as nails military reality.
Hooyah!

Being in the Navy, and with unrealized macho ambitions, I bought this book to try to understand the people who shoot and get shot at for a living. This book is an amazing account for the27 weeks journey of a groupd of men through their initial training. It illustrates the amazing physical condition, the determination and, suprisingly, the luck that got these men through the training. Not that they got through on luck, but that some others were simply unlucky and didn't make it.

As a simple military tale, it is great reading, but for those who like to find deeper meaning in their books, this offers that in spades. It is an amazing account of what one person can accomplish if they are absolutely committed and willing to put up with any kind of pain. Makes getting up a running a few miles seem like a cakewalk.

Captain Couch has written the most poignant account about what it takes to become the best of the best, a US Navy SEAL. I won't rehash what others have so eloquently said here their reviews.
All I will add is that if you want motivation, read this book. Forget all those phony motavational speakers and the books they hawk, this book truely motivates ones spirit to adapt, overcome and work as a team.

Mr Couch has done an excellent job in writing this book, while accompanying the SEAL Class 228. I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it to all people who are interested in understanding the intense training. The details are great and Mr Couch has done a tremendous job of providing it from his privileged access. I would also recommend to those that are considering becoming a SEAL as a primer of what to look forward to and prepare for.

The story of Class 228 was such a drive for me that it made me want to do push ups while I was reading. Couch's telling of this journey is a must read for anyone in military or para-military style jobs. It's a must read for anyone who understands the need for putting your head down and driving through adversity for success.

What the men in this book went through is amazing. You have to wonder if they are on the edge of insanity to put themselves through this. But they aren't They are driven by a need to be the best at what they do, to do more than is expected of them. To read what they put themselves through really humbled me. It made me look at my daily life in a new perspective. It makes me want to push myself to do more, to do better. If they can put themselves through that much torture than I can push myself too. If you like book on the military and special ops, this should be on the top of your list. From Indoc to Graduation, the book covers the full gauntlet of what the BUD/S trainees go through to have the privelge to be called a Navy Seal. Reading this book will let you understand why becoming a Navy Seal is the greatest honor in the military.

Forget what you have seen in the movies. This book takes you in depth into what makes a man a warrior in the SEAL community. Written by a man who has seen how the teams work up close, Dick Couch has given an accruate and detailed account of the men of class 228. To truely understand the true sacrafice with out being there, this book gives you the intensity that comes with being a SEAL or a student in BUD/S. This is the only book I have ever read more than once and I still read it just to know that there are people out there who still dream and are willing to sacrafice so much to accomplish what so few are capabably of. This is the true story of the forging to make a individual part of the most elite commando force in the world. Definatly worth the read for anyone.

I got hooked on these type of books by a friend reading Warrior Soul at the beach and couldnt take his eyes off the book. I thought the book was fantastic! Dick Couch really goes into detail of class 228 going through BUD/S. He really immerses you in the experience of training to become a navy seal and the mind sets of the class. By the end of the book I felt like I really knew some of the students like burke & birch. These guys are no joke! Reading about all the training that goes on in 1 day alone is unbelievable. If you are looking for a book that really goes into the training involved along the path to becoming a seal then this is a must have.

You are probably looking at this book because you are interested in Navy SEALs like myself. If you are interested in SEALs then you won't be disapointed in this book. I decided to pick this book up and was I impressed. The whole time the author was telling the story I felt like I was actually there with the class. It's a quick read but not in a disappointing way.

As a SEAL hopeful I purchased this book when it was first released. I was pleasantly surprised. This is the most detailed and current book ever written about BUD/S. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
I'd also like to add that the 'lack of detail' regarding Phases 2 and 3 is because some of the things in Dive Phase are classified, and most things in Third Phase are classified. Details about IADs should not be expanded upon due to a potential violation of OPSEC. The security and safety of our boys on the ground should be of primary concern, with the public's entertainment somewhere far behind.

This book gets by on the sheer compelling nature of what it takes to be a Navy SEAL. The process truly is amazing. Unfortunately, you don't get to know the people going it through it as well as you might want (somewhat understandable, since they were kind of busy at the time). I also wanted to know more about life in the teams and actual missions. I realize that's probably a different book, but I didn't want it to be. If you want great military writing, this is not your book. If you want a feeling for what a SEAL (or SpecOp in general) has gone through to get where he is, this is a must-read.

I also found it truly inspiring. When I'm on a run or working out and it starts to hurt, I think of what 228 went through and things don't seem so bad. Or else I just tell myself the basic lesson I learned from the book: SEALs don't quit, so I won't either.

This is a harrowing and intense look at the making of Navy Seals. It chronicles BUD/S class 228 in an up close and personal way. Unfortunately there is alot we as readers will never be permitted to see. But make no mistakes, Cpt. Cough takes you to Coronado, and plunges you right along with the trainees (only we have it easy). I read the book in one night....it was that good. I crinched and felt anxious when the students had to pass a graded evolution and I smiled and laughed when they secured from Hell Week. One of the best non-fictional accounts that I have read.

This is the best book I have ever read. This book shows you what
kind of strength, stamina, mental toughness, and attitude is
truly needed to make it through BUD/S.
In the future I want to have the chance to become a Navy SEAL
and this book has truly showed me what it takes.
This book covers everything too, from Indoc to Hell Week to
Weapons & Tactics.
If you want to have the chance to become a SEAL, or if you are
just interested in the Elite soldiers that are defending our
country, this book is for you.

In light of the subject matter, the book is a little tedious in its detail, though the detail is necessary to convey the extreme nature of the training. Seeing what these young men endure can be exhausting, but it's a very well written account of BUD/S training.

I'd recommend it to others who want an intimate look at the training program of Navy SEALs.

This is the best book that I've read that deals with BUDS and SEAL training because it deals with three different areas that no other book on this subject does. Prior to entering BUDS, going through BUDS (not just hell week), and what happens after BUDS. Tremendous credibility is added to the book having been written by a retired SEAL as he offers perspectives of when he attended BUDS training. Well written and flows as if you were reading a novel.

Jason Innella, New Jersey

There's a lot to like about this book. Couch - a SEAL himself - had unprecedented access to the SEAL training program, and was given a wide berth to write about it in detail. As an overview of an incredibly grueling training process, with access most of us will never have, it's solid.

Ultimately, however, Couch isn't up to the task of documenting what's put before him. The writing is intensely mediocre.

First, he fails to adequately some activities (such as log PT) well enough for the reader to actually understand what's going on. This is a common mistake among writers with inadequate editorial guidance. He doesn't know what his readers don't know, so fails to explain some things.

Secondly, Couch doesn't dig to find stories. At the end of the book, you don't feel like you know the members of class 228 as individuals. Sure, you can recite the litany of body-breaking obstacles they overcame, but who are they? Why should we care about these people? Only a few of them are singled out for meaningful individual comment, and they get praise of the blandest variety. No personality comes through.

Lastly, Couch doesn't get into the nitty-gritty of tactical training at all. Evidently there's a technique which helps the trainees swim faster, but Couch can't be bothered with so much as a paragraph to explain what it is. We're told the trainees study military tactics, but the tactics themselves are never explained. Technical detail - so I learned something about how SEALs think and operate - could have compensated for Couch's failure to find individual stories, but is sadly absent from this book.

I have a few friends who were SEALs and this book definitely increased my respect for them. I can't imagine going through what they went though.

On the other hand, I learn more about what SEALs do, and how they do it, from one of my friends' stories than I did from this book. There was tremendous potential in what Couch set off to accomplish ... but sadly, he didn't reach it.

Dick Couch paints such a vivid picture in "The Warrior Elite" that my teeth chattered and muscles ached as I read the punishing account of Seal Class 228's training. A must read for anyone contemplating a career in the Seal Teams or for anyone who wants to experience Seal training sans the bruises, cold and sleepless nights.

This was one of the best non-fiction books that I've ever read. I am thinking about joining the seals someday and this book got me thinking even more. This is a must have for any special-op enthusiast.

My title says it all. I could not put this book down. Even after seeing the Discovery Channel's documentary on Class 238, this book adds so much more to the real life experience. I think this is the very best book written on BUD/s. Makes my 1972 Marine Corp boot camp experience feel like kindergarden. Hooyah to all past, present, and future Seals.

This is an exellent inside look at Bud/s training. If you're debating about entering Bud/s you should definitely check this book out. It takes you step by step all the way through Bud/s with class 228. You see every aspect from indoc to third phase to graduation. I recommend this to everyone.

This book is definitely written from an conventional Navy officer's perspective. Despite Couch's past SEAL career, he basically comes across as one of the "conventional" thinking SEAL officers that Richard Marcinko repeatedly complains about in his many best selling books. Dick Couch paints the modern SEALs as like some prima donnas and discounts their past "badboy" image and history. He even goes so far as to call the SEALS of the Vietnam era, seventies and eighties era as "streetfighters" rather than warriors. I found this disrespectful to the many enlisted SEALs and mustang SEAL officers who developed the SEAL mystique during the post Vietnam era.
Couch obviously favors Naval Academy grad officers from the things he says in his book. His Naval Academy bias comes thru loud and clear. He talks little about the many fine "Mustang" SEAL officers who have made the SEAL community what it is today. Many of the more innoative SEAL officers are former enlisted SEALs, who after first becoming enlisted SEALs went onto college, then went to OCS and became SEAL Commissioned Officers. Richard Marcinko is one of these "Mustang" SEAL officers, who earned everything he had and was given nothing.
Couch's opinion at the end of the book that the earlier era SEALs were "streetfighters" rather than real warriors is just plain disrespectful to the many sixties, seventies and eighties era SEALs who built NAVSPECWAR into what it is today. Those men were the pioneers...who rebelled against the conventional Navy and built the current SEAL reputation. Those "streetfighter" SEALs Couch talks about were doing SEAL things long before special ops became popular or hip or cool. In fact they were doing it when special ops was actually UNPOPULAR in the Vietnam and post Vietnam era.
Thank Goodness I rented this book from my local library. Rather than shelling out the cash to buy it. I actually thought it was a good book initially, but due to the author's disrespectful opinions and slants which come thru clearly in this book, Im glad I didnt buy it with my own cash.
This book to me displays a very conventional side of the Navy SEALs and its a side I doubt would be very useful in the war against terrorism. We need more "streetfighters" SEALs to fight dirty in this war against terrorism.

This book was excellent and I know at least a few other guys that I went through similar USAF training with that used it as motivation. It is well written and you can clearly see the author's care for his subject.

The thing I loved about this book is the author made me feel like I was really there with the trainees. Dick Couch is a Vietnam era SEAL who was able to shadow Class 228 all the way through BUDS. If you're interested in learning what happens after this book I recommend The Finishing School, also by Dick Couch. It picks up where this book leaves off, but with a different group of guys. Great stuff!
The Finishing School: Earning the Navy SEAL Trident

Terrific book. If you are interested in "things" that are military you will enjoy this work. The book takes you right into the action of what it is like to train to become a Navy Seal and it is very hard to put down.

This book is one of the best books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. These guys are the real deal!! it makes me feel safe that we have specialist's that are trained that well protecting our country!!

This amazing book by Mr. Couch is a first hand perspective on the extremely difficult training these men endure. Warrior Elite was very inspiring to me and is a MUST READ! It shows the true essence of a warrior and tells us that we can go through anything in life as long as we want it bad enough. Buy this book.

Terrific book. If you are interested in "things" that are military you will enjoy this work. The book takes you right into the action of what it is like to train to become a Navy Seal and it is very hard to put down.

This book is one of the best books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. These guys are the real deal!! it makes me feel safe that we have specialist's that are trained that well protecting our country!!

Like most readers, I bought this book based on glowing reviews in print publications and on the store.

The description of the incredibly rigorous training program that Navy Seals must endure, and how that program culls out so many otherwise outstanding candidates is interesting. Citizens and residents of the US are very fortunate to have such soldiers defending the nation, and what Seals endure to serve their country is inspiring.

The writing is simple and clear. But the characters are uniformly portrayed in a two-dimensional way and so ultimately it's kind of a gung-ho but boring read.

As with many non-fiction books, it could have been done as or more effectively through an in-dept magazine article.