Always Faithful, Always Forward

By: Dick Couch

Narrated by: John Pruden

Publisher's summary

The Marine Special Operations Command ("MARSOC") is the newest component of the military's shift toward a fully integrated Special Operations Command structure. At first, the Marines were strongly against any Marines serving under anyone other than another Marine.

Then 9/11 happened.

In the years following, Marine forces found themselves growing more agreeable to inter-branch operational command, finally forming the Marine Special Operations Command in 2006. Always Faithful, Always Forward follows the journey of a class of Marine candidates from their recruitment, through assessment and selection, to their qualification as Marines Special Operators.

The assessment, selection, and training regimes are a combination of psychological testing and intense military training as well as being a physical and professional rite of passage. MARSOC Marines must be efficient, agile, independent, and prepared to live hard in the field. They are warriors trained in the full range of military skills, as well as teachers who can train locals to defend their communities and lead them in battle. But above all, they are Marines. Their ability to leverage their numbers by embedding with the locals and to live in remote locations has, in their short history, made them a valuable force and one with great utility in remote reaches of the world.

Retired Navy Captain Dick Couch has been given unprecedented access to this new command and to the individual Marines of this exceptional special-operations unit, allowing him to chronicle the history and development of the Marine Special Operations Command and how they find, recruit, and train their special operators.

©2014 Dick Couch (P)2014 Tantor

Show more Show less

3 out of 5 stars

By Rich H. on 04-25-15

Essentially a Textbook

This is recommended reading for anyone who aspires to join the Marine special ops. For others, it's like reading a textbook. No story or character development, but everything there is to know about special ops training.

Show more Show less

4 out of 5 stars

By Michael D. Havener on 09-09-22

Describes how you the Marine Corps works and how they built MARSOC

As. Veteran Marine, I enjoyed this book!

If you are looking for accounts of Marine Special Operators in action in the field, you will not find this book interesting.

However, if you want to understand how the Marine Corps integrated into Special Forces, what motivates a Marine to become a Critical Skills Operator, how Marines think and act and how the Marine Corps leverages all of this to Create MARSOC, then this book is for you,

Show more Show less

4 out of 5 stars

By Mike Harbour on 02-02-15

A Story for military buffs indeed

A great look inside Marine SOF with as much detail as permitted by law. if you liked his other books you will this one as well. if it's your first try of Mr Couchs books you will not be disappointed.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Rebecca Trevino on 08-20-15

great read!

If you like the military you will like this book. It gives you a great look at the building of a marine as an individual.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Darren Sapp on 08-23-17

MARSOC Training Explained

Any additional comments?

While Rangers, SEALs, Green Berets, etc. are well known, Couch educates us on training for the fairly new and exciting Marine special forces.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Tom S. on 06-30-21

Incredibly Detailed

For anyone wanting to know every step in becoming a member of MARSOC, this is a must read.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Anonymous User on 05-21-22

If you like Any of Dick Couch's books, You'll love

So thorough! As you've come to expect with Dick couch, he goes through every aspect of training and the selection process to become a special operations warrior.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Jose on 01-28-15

AFAF Review

Outstanding insight into the operational capabilities, training, and selection of MARSOC Marines. As a former Marine I highly recommend it.

Show more Show less

3 out of 5 stars

By maryrbruce on 01-18-15

too technical and difficult for me

What did you like best about Always Faithful, Always Forward? What did you like least?

I like the topic

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I didn't get that .

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I like the voice, which is one of my choosing criteria, but the reading was very technical and I did not find enough processing time or white space on the pages.

Do you think Always Faithful, Always Forward needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Those who have served in the military might appreciate follow-up, but not for me at my level of abbreviations

Show more Show less

1 out of 5 stars

By Bryce on 10-24-15

Disappointed

This was the worst SOF book I have ever listened to, to me the title sounded like it would be more about actual operations, not Dick Couch's love affair with MARSOC training. I struggled through this book thinking it would get better, never did.

Show more Show less