The Warrior Elite

The Forging of SEAL Class 228

By: Dick Couch

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military training in the world. What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep? In The Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch documents the process that transforms young men into warriors. SEAL training is the distillation of the human spirit, a tradition-bound ordeal that seeks to find men with character, courage, and the burning desire to win at all costs, men who would rather die than quit.

©2001, 2003 SEAL Productions Limited (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Couch has written an exceptionally nuanced and insighful book." ( Washington Post Book World)

interesting view into the mindset of seal trainees

Where does The Warrior Elite rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the only one of its kind I've listened too. The others have been fiction, so its ahrd to compare.

What other book might you compare The Warrior Elite to and why?

I've also read Dick Couch's other books about elite military training. They all have the same feel and the same approach.

What three words best describe Arthur Morey’s voice?

Distinctive. He annunciates to the Nth degree.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Nothing I would describe as moving, but the parts about hell week were pretty intense.

HooYah Capt. Couch

Outstanding Sir. A job Well Done. Eternally grateful to you and the men in the teams. LLT

Great BUD/S Prep

Awesome read if someone is looking into BUD/S. A real guy check and Couch gives a great perspective into the warrior mindset. Highly recommend read to all the other warriors out there.

Great story

Mr. Couch did a wonderful job intergrading Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell into this story line.

Capturing an Essence of the SEAL-building Process

The SEAL selection process relies on a multitude of exhausting processes, physical and psychological. These processes are all designed to create a 'perfect storm' of value formation-- It Pays To Be A Winner. Couch leads us through these processes of 'Value Formation' as each SEAL 'wannabe' is being continually tested. There are as many 'breaking points' are there are SEAL candidates and Couch recognizes and offers respect for the honorable men pursuing the coveted SEAL Trident. The author cannot create a minute by minute physical experience of being Cold, Wet, and Sandy and convey that physicality to the reader He cannot create the impossibly bearable shivering that accompanies cold water immerision so many times in BUDs training ---and the attendant decline in the body's core temperature with the inherent compromise in physical and mental function. All of which is slowly and measureably eroding a trainee's will...to win.
Couch provides as detailed an examination of the process as available. He, himself, has been through the training. He knows of what he speaks, and writes. If the reader / listener intends to explore the essence of the SEAL training process, to understand what unfolds in the day to day winnowing out of value formation; to understand a trainee must desire to WIN, at almost ANY cost in order to become a SEAL, The Warrior Elite by Dick Couch is your route to enlightenment.

THE HARDEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD!!!

I've read FEARLESS: THE ADAM BROWN STORY and LONE SURVIVOR both books goes into what happens when you show up at buds training.The Warrior Elite is a day by day account of what it takes to pass the toughest military school in the world. The great thing about the book is its written by a former NAVY SEAL "DICK COUCH" and after all these years later to see that its still the same but different. Dick knows what it will take to finish the school but he still has a heart and he wants everyone to pass, even though he knows its not possible. If you want to know what it takes to be a NAVY SEAL, this is the book... You might think twice before you join. Over 128 men started class 228 and only 20 made it...

great

pronounced a couple things weird, but besides that it was great. awesome book from an impressive and humble man

Inspiring, Now Get Up and Move!

Anyone interested in one of the following should read this book: Navy SEALS, exercise, being motivated, pushing yourself to reach goals, or sadism. This book is a real eye opener as to what these men go through to just be able to get to the point of actually training to be a SEAL. This book deals with the first six months of training from indoctrination to graduating from BUDS. Hell week is described very vividly, as is the torment, pain, and exhaustion these men endure to just get to the starting line. As it is pointed out in the book these six months are just the beginning, some of the men who graduate from BUDS will never actually earn the Trident to become official Navy SEALs. Its a remarkable story and very inspiring. If you are ever feeling lazy, maybe you want to skip your run, not go to class, or just lay around all day, listen to about 15 minutes of this book, if you don't want to move after that then you know you need to stay still.

The only thing that detracts from this book is that sometimes Captain Couch's conservatism and biases leak into the story. I do not think it is intentional but the way he speaks of the men who are tattooed or not caucasion came across as preconceived notions more than actual facts. This does not take anything serious away from the book, his views on world affairs pop up through out the book but a concious listener will be able to sort through those and walk away unscathed.

Captain Couch's attentiveness to the hardship of the SEALs is really what makes this book interesting and worth the listen.

Best description a buds

This book had the best description of navy seal training in the day-to-day training Seal candidates go through

Great Book!

Not my usual genre but I loved it. I heard myself saying “wow” so many times. Glad to have this book as part of my audible library.