Sua Sponte

The Forging of a Modern American Ranger

By: Dick Couch

Narrated by: Pete Larkin

The 75th Ranger Regiment is a unique and distinct culture among the American military establishment. They stand alone, even among our other Special Operations forces, as the most active brigade-sized force in the current Global War on Terrorism. Since 9/11, the Regiment has been the only continuously engaged unit in the Army, and has had 40 percent of its number deployed in harm's way for the last decade. Their mission is unique. Rangers do not patrol, they don't train allied forces, nor do they engage in routine counterinsurgency duties. They have a single-mission focus: they seek out the enemy and they capture or kill them. This sets Rangers apart as pure, direct-action warriors.

Army Rangers are not born; they are made. The modern 75th Ranger Regiment represents the culmination of 250 years of American soldiering. As the nation's oldest standing military unit, the Regiment traces its origins to Richard Rogers' Rangers during the pre-Revolutionary French and Indian War, through the likes of Francis Marion and John Mosby, to the five active Ranger battalions of the Second World War, and finally, to the four battalions of the current Ranger regiment engaged in modern combat. Over that period, a standard of professional excellence and the forging of that excellence is distilled in the selection, assessment, and training of today's Rangers.

Granted unprecedented access to the training of this highly restricted component of America's Special Operations Forces in a time of war, retired Navy Captain Dick Couch tells the personal story of the young men who begin this difficult and dangerous journey to become a Ranger. Many will try but only a select few will survive to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment. Sua Sponte follows a group of these aspiring young warriors through the crucible that is ranger training and their preparation for direct-action missions in Afghanistan against the Taliban.

©2012 Dick Couch (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A great piece that describes how the reputation of Rangers . . . reflects the leaders that select and mold them." (Gen. (Ret.) Stanley A. McChrystal)

Poignant Overview of the Life Cycle of a Ranger

There was little to dislike in this book. My only complaints are that I wish there was more detail at times. That said, given the nature of the book and the sensitivity of the Ranger process, the atatimes vague nature is understandable.

I would highly recommend for anyone considering a career in special forces, especially as a Ranger. I would also recommend this book to anyone with a respect for military culture and lifestyle.

RLTW

A very in depth and interesting look at Rangers. Excellent job! As good as the author's other works.

Rangers Lead the Way

Any additional comments?

No one tells the stories of how men become Seals, Rangers, Green Berets, and Force Recon better than Dick Couch. This is a reader, not some stuffy list of training requirements.

The detail and the personal touch

Very in depth but very easy listening. The small interviews with the individuals provided a closeness to the Rangers in the book.

An awesome book

I really enjoyed this book (three times already). Wish it had more information about training after RASP (besides Ranger School). The author wrote two books on Seal training and I’d love to see him write more about the Rangers (or another book about the Special Forces. There aren’t that many books I listen to multiple times.