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Rating: 
Summary: Unconventional Warfare
Review: I was involved in the Iran hostage rescue attempt in 1980 and retired in 1982. I attended a reunion at Fort Bragg some years later and was shocked to see the growth in size and prestige of the SOF community. One of my former mates had just been promoted to 4-star and appointed CINCUSSOCOM. Until I read this book I didn't understand how we got from Desert One to having our own CINC. This is a great effort by Ms. Marquis, meticulously researched and footnoted. Anyone interested in the evolution and the future of Special Operations Forces must read this book! Hats off to the author!
Rating:
Summary: Unconventional Warfare
Review: I was involved in the Iran hostage rescue attempt in 1980 and retired in 1982. I attended a reunion at Fort Bragg some years later and was shocked to see the growth in size and prestige of the SOF community. One of my former mates had just been promoted to 4-star and appointed CINCUSSOCOM. Until I read this book I didn't understand how we got from Desert One to having our own CINC. This is a great effort by Ms. Marquis, meticulously researched and footnoted. Anyone interested in the evolution and the future of Special Operations Forces must read this book! Hats off to the author!
Rating:
Summary: Great insights into the world of special ops
Review: The author did a thorough job of research and documentation, except in one area...Special Tactics. She nearly completely overlooked this SOF force. Additionally, she was completely off track when she stated "the primary mission of pararescue is emergency medical treatment". The primary mission of pararescue is PERSONNEL RECOVERY! Our job is combat and peacetime rescue...we are rescue technicians and specialize in TRAUMA medical treatment. We are not "medics". This is stated in numerous doctrine documents (both Air Force and Joint Doctrine)...how or why this happened is beyond me. ST is a continually overlooked force (both by design and circumstance) but to have this statement included in a book like this (dedicated to SOF) is unforgiveable...a serious lack of research in this area, and a serious hole in the literature. Overall the book was well written and right on target in so far as the "overall" SOF picture, but to nearly exclude ST is at best, unfortunate, and at worst, brings her other ideas and conclusions into question. Special Tactics Group is not even our designation...that is our "functional" headquarters...we are Special Tactics Squadrons.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good, but...
Review: The author did a thorough job of research and documentation, except in one area...Special Tactics. She nearly completely overlooked this SOF force. Additionally, she was completely off track when she stated "the primary mission of pararescue is emergency medical treatment". The primary mission of pararescue is PERSONNEL RECOVERY! Our job is combat and peacetime rescue...we are rescue technicians and specialize in TRAUMA medical treatment. We are not "medics". This is stated in numerous doctrine documents (both Air Force and Joint Doctrine)...how or why this happened is beyond me. ST is a continually overlooked force (both by design and circumstance) but to have this statement included in a book like this (dedicated to SOF) is unforgiveable...a serious lack of research in this area, and a serious hole in the literature. Overall the book was well written and right on target in so far as the "overall" SOF picture, but to nearly exclude ST is at best, unfortunate, and at worst, brings her other ideas and conclusions into question. Special Tactics Group is not even our designation...that is our "functional" headquarters...we are Special Tactics Squadrons.
Rating:
Summary: Great insights into the world of special ops
Review: Unconventional Warfare skips the heavy-handed agenda of many books on special ops. Covers all American special operations forces including Special Forces, SEALs, and Air Force spec ops. Good history of U.S. special operations forces plus an explanation of how this critical military capability was nearly lost after Vietnam and then rebuilt because of the heroics of true believers. A surprising page turner given the thoroughness of the research. Great work!
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