Rating: 
Summary: Must Reading for Students of Military History
Review: I am privileged to have received and read an early copy of this book, a timely reminder to all Americans that "Freedom is not Free." Colonel John T. Carney, Jr. (Retired), is President of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a very special charity that provides full scholarships to the children and families of fallen special operations soldiers, sailors and airmen. As a member of a fraternity of men known as "Quiet Professionals," it must have been terribly difficult for him to put into words acts of incredible courage which have heretofore been closely held knowledge among very few people. On the verge of retirement from the Air Force after a disappointing and stalled career, Carney gets a word of advice from an old friend, changes his career track and begins a journey down a lonely road towards the creation of a special Air Force unit that expertly handles air assets during special operations missions. The road for his "Brand X" unit is full of obstacles, but with slow acceptance among some of the Army's Special Forces legends, like Colonel Charlie Beckwith and Lieutenant Colonel Lewis "Bucky" Burruss, he doggedly champions his unit's abilities and repeatedly demonstrates the utility of having a trained combat controller in situ with the Army's Special Forces teams. Having previously been a football coach for the Air Force Academy, Carney's program for his special tactics teams is as tough as any training the services can muster, including HALO, HAHO and scuba training. Skydiving is fun. HALO and HAHO with special operations forces in the dead of night, in all weather conditions, and with 200 pounds of equipment is deadly serious business and not much fun at all. The men whose job is to maintain that edge now have a safety net for their families: the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. They can do their jobs comfortable in the knowledge that the net is held by an American hero, Colonel John T. Carney, Jr., founder of the Air Force Special Tactics teams.
Rating:
Summary: Must Reading for Students of Military History
Review: I am privileged to have received and read an early copy of this book, a timely reminder to all Americans that "Freedom is not Free." Colonel John T. Carney, Jr. (Retired), is President of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a very special charity that provides full scholarships to the children and families of fallen special operations soldiers, sailors and airmen. As a member of a fraternity of men known as "Quiet Professionals," it must have been terribly difficult for him to put into words acts of incredible courage which have heretofore been closely held knowledge among very few people. On the verge of retirement from the Air Force after a disappointing and stalled career, Carney gets a word of advice from an old friend, changes his career track and begins a journey down a lonely road towards the creation of a special Air Force unit that expertly handles air assets during special operations missions. The road for his "Brand X" unit is full of obstacles, but with slow acceptance among some of the Army's Special Forces legends, like Colonel Charlie Beckwith and Lieutenant Colonel Lewis "Bucky" Burruss, he doggedly champions his unit's abilities and repeatedly demonstrates the utility of having a trained combat controller in situ with the Army's Special Forces teams. Having previously been a football coach for the Air Force Academy, Carney's program for his special tactics teams is as tough as any training the services can muster, including HALO, HAHO and scuba training. Skydiving is fun. HALO and HAHO with special operations forces in the dead of night, in all weather conditions, and with 200 pounds of equipment is deadly serious business and not much fun at all. The men whose job is to maintain that edge now have a safety net for their families: the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. They can do their jobs comfortable in the knowledge that the net is held by an American hero, Colonel John T. Carney, Jr., founder of the Air Force Special Tactics teams.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative, historically accurate, lacks action
Review: I enjoy military books immensely, and this book seemed right up my alley. I like those books that you can not put down, where you feel like you are right there in the middle of the action. This book, however, is written in a historical manner which presents lots of facts, names and who did this, who went where info. There is very little first-person action where conflicts are described and you feel part of the battle. Great book, well written, just not what I was looking for.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but might be better as a Documentary Movie
Review: I'm about 2/3 done with this book. I previously read Black Hawk Down, and picked up this book next. While Black Hawk Down makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action, this book reads more like a documentary. You never quite feel for the heroes the author writes about; you never quite understand who they are, what their personalities are like, are what these people have gone through. Instead, its almost as if you are watching a black-and-white movie and are set far back away from the action. There's a lot of facts, and a lot of names. Names of people that not too many people (at least today) know about. The main point of the book seems to be that Special Operations has really grown up in America, and that frankly it was really disorganized before.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but might be better as a Documentary Movie
Review: I'm about 2/3 done with this book. I previously read Black Hawk Down, and picked up this book next. While Black Hawk Down makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action, this book reads more like a documentary. You never quite feel for the heroes the author writes about; you never quite understand who they are, what their personalities are like, are what these people have gone through. Instead, its almost as if you are watching a black-and-white movie and are set far back away from the action. There's a lot of facts, and a lot of names. Names of people that not too many people (at least today) know about. The main point of the book seems to be that Special Operations has really grown up in America, and that frankly it was really disorganized before.
Rating: 
Summary: Heartwarming
Review: Reading "No Room for Error" reminded me of how thankful I am to be a woman who is a citizen of The United States of America. In the pages of "No Room for Error," Carney and Schemmer introduced me to numerous members of the AF Special Tactics units who selflessly gave of themselves to guarantee my freedoms and those of a few billion of my closest friends and relations. The book has something for everyone - the reference information is phenomenal and at times a bit deep for an "outsider"; yet, the recounting of the (not all strictly military) activities and missions brings a smile to the lips and a tear to the eye - all bring a warming of the heart. I worked for a defense contractor for a little over a decade, and had a sense of pride knowing that many of the products produced provided the special edge to help our military. I am privileged to personally know over 100 friends and relatives who have served over the years in various branches of the military, including a few in the Special Operations Forces. War is never an easy topic of discussion. Carney and Schemmer have been able to broach the topic and round out the discussion - all in one book.
Rating:
Summary: Must Read
Review: Special operations forces were all born from necessity, yet always treated as the bastard children of their traditional counterparts. So it was with the creation of the US Air Forces Special Tactics Units. They may not be as well known as the Army's Rangers and Special Forces, or the Navy's SEALs, but they are every bit as important.Colonel Carney was personnally involved in the creation and development of these critically important units. While they have played in the shawdows of all recent conflicts, the participation of these Special Tactics Units came to the fore during Operation Enduring Freedom. There, in Afghanistan, their courage became legendary as they directed devastating bombing missions that quickly broke the back of al Qaeda and Taliban forces. With other special operations units, they fought on the ground where it gets up close and personal. This book will give the readers an insight into a world they seldom hear about and a historical perspective of the battles of the Air Commandos - all told from the firsthand perspective of a true American hero. You will also learn of Col Carney's continued service to the SOF community. Currently he runs the Special Operations Warrior's Foundation which provides scholarship to the children of our fallen comrades.
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