The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228

Couch's look into the lives of BUDS class 228 is both informative and relevant. By following the day to day life of these Navy SEAL trainees the reader is able to not only understand what it takes it takes to become a SEAL, but also the kind of grit the person must have in order to complete training. A mixture of heart, endurance, luck and persistence is a required trait for these men, and the book displays this by describing the obstacles the trainees must face---and clear.

A lot of things have changed since when this book was written in 2003, and it is interesting to hear about men featured in this book, like Marcus Luttrell, who is now a Navy Cross recipient for his actions during Operation Freedom. While some specifics of training might have changed, the fundamentals have not.

As SEALS are becoming more and more relevant today, especially in the killing of Osama Bin Laden, this book serves as a premier source to discover the qualities of the men that wear the SEAL trident.

Yes . The entire book was riveting

Ensign Burke, the character displayed

the entire book

The book made me proud to be part of a Military that supports and encourages this type of warrior.

God Bless America and the Warriors who serve her.

I continuously listen to audiobooks, primarily non-fiction, audiobooks on my daily 1.5hr commute.
I really can't fault the writer or narrator in any fashion for this book, and frankly it has spurred me to begin redesigning my body, skills, and outlook with the Navy Seals as role models.
If you want to be better than you are, and prefer *reality* over TV/movie fiction, I recommend this book as a tourguide through the training and weeding out process of chosing that path.
Stop complaining about how hard your life is, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and make everyday life easier by a little hard training in your off hours.
I am.

Good job, Dick and Arthur!

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.

This was a good book on all aspects of Seal BUDS training. It was especially good since written by a former Navy Seal. He added a lot of insight into the whole process. Woudl recommend it to any military buffs. The book is even motivational after hearing what these guys go through on a daily basis.

Makes me want to be a SEAL. HA!!!! Gives me tremendous respect for the men who pursue this life.

This book should have been narrated by someone with military experience; someone that understands how certain things are pronounced and emphasized in the military.

In spite of the narrator's shortcomings, it was still an interesting listen.

Hard to say, I think the surviving members of the original class 228, especially Lt. Gallagher. All of the men in this book, from the trainees who lasted as long as they could, to the graduating class were incredible men made of tougher stuff then most of us. The SEAL instructors were also amazing. The mix of motivation and pressure is what forges these highly elite warriors.

Need inspiration? Listen to this book!

This is my first experience listening to him. I think he was chosen as he has the voice of "wise veteren", but I think they could have gotten someone with just a slight more pep in his voice. The 'Hooyahs' were a tad weak.

Again, so many to choose from. The section on Hell Week stands out, as does the classes final training missions. Again, this book is loaded with inspiring moments.

3rd

Finding out the grueling details of how a man becomes a Seal.

All of the character -

No

I love listening to this account and wonder how those guys have fared in the war on terror?

Seal team Six only with a much better ending