Zero Footprint

The True Story of a Private Military Contractor's Covert Assignments in Syria, Libya, and the World's Most Dangerous Places

By: Simon Chase, Ralph Pezzullo

Narrated by: Eric Brooks

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A dramatic insider account of the world of private military contracting.

Armored cars, burner phones, top-notch weaponry, and top-secret missions - this is the life of today's private military contractor. Like author Simon Chase, many PMCs were once the world's top military operatives, and since retiring from outfits like US Navy SEAL TEAM Six and the UK's Special Boat Service, they have devoted their lives to executing missions too sensitive for the government to acknowledge.

Chase reveals here for the first time the operations too hazardous and politically volatile to be officially sanctioned by his employers. Working on behalf of the CIA's Special Activities Division, the US Department of Defense, the US State Department, and British government entities, he takes on jobs that require zero footprint, with no trace of their actions left behind.

Chase delivers firsthand accounts of tracking Bin Laden in Afghanistan and being one of the first responders after the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. We see his teams defuse terrorist bombs, guard dignitaries, and protect convoys traveling through perilous territory - and then there are the really big jobs: top-secret "zero footprint" missions for the US government that include searching for high-value targets and setting up arms shipping networks.

The missions in Zero Footprint will shock listeners, but so will the personal dangers. Chase and the men he works with operate without government backup or air rescue. If they die serving their country - they remain anonymous. There are no military honors or benefits. Contractors like Simon Chase are the unsung heroes in the war against terrorism, a strong but largely invisible force - until now.

©2016 Simon Chase and Ralph Pezzullo (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Realistic and honest!

I've enjoyed this book very much. The author seems very honest and genuine about his encounters. Nothing is sugar coated or boosting. He touches subjects on political debacles, family struggles, PTSD, and moral courage in combat.

Fascinating and well told

Intense chapters of the life of a best operator. Tragic and chaos all around him

Great book

Great book with excellent inside view of the secret world of PMCs and the lives they lead.

Read 3 times

amazing book, can't stop going back. it's an amazing adventure that will take you across the world, telling the story of trials and tribulations not only of a soldier. but the human psyche itself. 10/10. narrator was one of the best on audible imo.

Rest in peace Simon. you were a true hero.

Simon died in a suicide bombing in a cafe in Afghanistan shortly after the book was written. his body was found on top of a woman. as he was attempting to save her by shielding her body from the blast.

Fantastic goosebump inducing story

Awesome tempo and great narration. Awesome story coming from true stories. it's an intense read that will keep you on the she of your seat and give unrivalled incite into the world of private military contracting.

Interesting

Good story, hard to believe some of it but good story. if it's true its incredible what the US government involves itself in. didnt like the narrator's impressions of the other people in the book.

Well written and well read

Not only is the story compelling, but the performance is very good. I didn't expect a book on military contractors to be action packed as well as deeply moving. I teared up at multiple places while letting my heart and mind connect to the author's words.

Riveting stories

Riveting stories! I highly recommend it. Would love to see this as a Netflix series!

amazing and emotional

amazing book, Gildart Jackson does awesome narrating. it's a MUST READ. read it twice now.

If you liked 13 Hours - You'll like this

What did you like best about this story?

I like books that I learn new things from. I learned a lot about private military contractors and it was very interesting to be taken "behind the scenes"

What does Eric Brooks bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought he did a great narration.

Any additional comments?

This was an excellent book. After listening to 13 Hours I found this book even more interesting. Benghazi is part of this book, but a small part. These contractors have been putting their lives on the line long before Benghazi. Yes, they get paid a lot of money, but their level of risk is just as high as military on the front lines but without support of governments (although one could argue that our own military doesn't have the support of our government). It was a unique look inside of the lives of military contractors professionally and personally.