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Summary: We spent TAX MONEY on this airhead jerk off drill?
Review:
Brief synopsis:
California airheard tries to get U.S. Army Greet Berets to eat tofu and explore their effiminate side. Fails.
(And the taxpayer gets hosed again. I'd rather the funds were spent on $10,000 U.S. Air Force toilet seats.)
Rating: 
Summary: An eastern insight into the western military.
Review: "What a story this is! Heckler's chronicle of the army's daring experiment in awareness training for twenty-five Green Berets is must reading for anyone interested in the role of the warrior in a technological age. But more than that, it is an illumination of courage and vulnerability and what it means to be a man. I couldn't put it down." -George Leonnard, author of The Silent Pulse and The Ultimate Athlete. "This book should be necessary reading material for all Rangers and Special Forces units." - Keith M. Nightingale, Commander, Ranger Training Brigade "In my personal opinion, Heckler hits the mark in identifying one of the most troubling problems affecting today's U.S. military forces: the ascendancy of technology at the expense of moral values which underpin the true spirit of the Profession of Arms. A must read for those amongst us who really consider themselves warriors." - Michael E. Haas, Lt. Colonel, United States Air Force; Head, Air Force Special Operations " Richard heckler's proving ground - a top secret military research project- provides colorful and unique human insight into the effects of ancient spiritual practices on contemporary soldiers. His discoveries challenge preconceived notions of 'good and evil,'and more profoundly, compel us, the readers, to question our own definitions of compassion, nonagression, and courage. This is a coming of age book not just for the author, but for the '60's and '70's generation as hey assume the mantle of responsibility, especially if we take away nuclear and chemical weapons. Do we deal with terrorism, drugs, and any other emergency in vigilante fashio, or by a humane military?" -Al Santoli, author of To Bear Any Burden
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Summary: An extremely important work
Review: First, let me counter a couple of criticisms by some of the other reviewers.To the person who said the work was too self absorbed - I have no idea what you are thinking. The book is this mans journal - of course it is very personal. It is supposed to give us insight into his own inner conflicts. Personally I do not trust people for whom everything is so simple that they have no inner conflicts. That is fundamentalism and a distorted and shallow way to view the complexity of experience. Second to the right wing nut who went off calling this guy a fruitloop for his work with the Marines etc. I have no idea what you are all about - or if you even read this book. I will say that this book confirms for me the difference between a soldier and a warrior. A warrior is a pioneer of thought and last to pick up the sword. A soldier is essentially an automoton trained to take orders without question or thought. Both are necessary cogs in the US Military, despite their contradictory nature. Green Berets in particular have missions that go beyond mindlessly fulfilling orders. As with many special operators they are required to think creatively, communicate with lead and inspire natives, and overcome obstacles. It's not just about what you see in Rambo movies. This book is important for soldiers, and martial artists of all types. It gives us the sense that peace and conflict are like yin and yang- and cannot ever be totally separated. For hundreds of years the samurai (Japan's professional warriors) were expected to participate in writing poetry and flower arranging.
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Summary: Know your enemy, know yourself....
Review: I am an officer in the United States Army, Special Operations Command. I am a 4 time NCAA All American in Track & Field (3000m steeplechase). I have competed in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Olympic Trials. I also practice Aikido. I mention these things to tell you my point of view. This book was loaned to me by a friend at my dojo who knew that I was in the military and was preparing to head overseas. The book touches on aspects of everything I have ever done. The mental training needed to be a good runner, the discipline required to be a soldier and the compassion necessary for Aikido. I read this book and immediatly felt that I was Richard Heckler, or that he was me. It is a thought provoking book that shows the better face of the modern warrior. Not a "Kill-bot", but a human being. It is important to note what is implied here, which is that we must see with better eyes. To understand someone, to know why they do what they do. This is to see with their eyes. This book is simply a chronology of events that took place, but between the lines it is a revelation about being a warrior for everyone involved....even the reader.
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Summary: facinating
Review: I found this book to be simply facinating. Very useful in all sorts of ways and even more so by the personal observations on life and behaviour the writer makes. I have been in the forces and would recommed it it anyone.
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Summary: Oh why the Marines!
Review: I read this book after I found out the Marines hired this guy to come in and teach. Fortunatly very little of his curriculum is really in the Marine Corps program. He was nick named "fruitloop" by the Marines undergoing the program. The most horrible thing about this wack job is that it mirrors the thoughts of William S Lind, head of Gary Hart's military reform movement from the mid-80's. William S Lind is not a liberal. He is one of the leaders of the movement to block the political correct movement. William S Lind is the head of the FreeCongress Foundations Center for Cultural Conservatismism. He fights this type of ... from his Washington DC think tank with Paul Weyrch. Heckler quotes Mr. Linds work from his years with Gary Hart. I am going to send Mr. Lind a copy of this. He will have a fit. Mr Lind (back in 1999) was successful in banning all church of wicca activities on US military bases. If he finds out he is quoted in a left wing Buddist/ Hari Krisna he is going to flip. Mr Lind has a book out called "Political Correctness Dirty Little Secrets" that traces the intellectual development of the Berkley California movement called "Cultural Negation." The goal of cultural negation is to "negate" all western institutions by inflitrating them, forcing contsant critisim by accusations of racism, elitism, and homophobia, and contrasting western ways with those of Asia, Africa etc. Heckler was a member of this Berkely group. It looks like Mr. Lind has some more work to do purging the military of this...
Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: I was in the army for five years, four spent in the 3rd. Ranger Battalion. The book was recomended by our co. X.O. It was a book I could not put down, life changing much as my military career was. I would recomend this book highly to anyone, male or female, no matter what your stance in life is. Especially to young people intending on a life in the combat arms. Rangers Lead The Way!
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Summary: In Response to "Oh Why the Marines"
Review: In rubuttal to this writer, his information is false. I was one of the Marines in the platoon involved in this training. His comment that the Marines called Dr. Heckler a "fruitloop" is absolutely false. In fact, many of the Marines involved labelled the 6 weeks of training some of the most influential and most "warrior-like" that they had received since they joined the Corps. Also, the writer makes another false statement when he says that hardly any of this training made it into the current program. Many aspects of the training are in MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). The types of strikes, body hardening excercises, visualization, were all part of the pilot program and are in the current MCMAP program. I am not here to plug the book (though I do feel it has it merits). I am here, as a member of the Marine platoon who participated in this training, to offer a rebuttal to this writer who clearly offers false information.
Rating:
Summary: In Response to "Oh Why the Marines"
Review: In rubuttal to this writer, his information is false. I was one of the Marines in the platoon involved in this training. His comment that the Marines called Dr. Heckler a "fruitloop" is absolutely false. In fact, many of the Marines involved labelled the 6 weeks of training some of the most influential and most "warrior-like" that they had received since they joined the Corps. Also, the writer makes another false statement when he says that hardly any of this training made it into the current program. Many aspects of the training are in MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). The types of strikes, body hardening excercises, visualization, were all part of the pilot program and are in the current MCMAP program. I am not here to plug the book (though I do feel it has it merits). I am here, as a member of the Marine platoon who participated in this training, to offer a rebuttal to this writer who clearly offers false information.
Rating:
Summary: A journey into understanding commitment to an art & life.
Review: Richard Heckler is a psychologist and akidoist who practices in the area of mind-body connection. He participated in a breakthrough training program that brought "new-age" awareness disciplines to the Green Berets. Very illuminating on what the role of a warrior is in this technological age. Delves deeply into how courage, vulnerability, compassion, and focus combine to create the warrior spirit. A must for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the military in today's world of morals-less technology.
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