Search  for anything...
Penguin

Always Faithful, Always Forward: The Forging of a Special Operations Marine

    • Based on 241 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for product changes
$11.74 Why this price?
Holiday Deal · 35% off was $18.00

Buy Now, Pay Later

As low as $2 / mo
  • – 4-month term
  • – No impact on credit
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout. Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, PayTomorrow, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayPal. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Free shipping on this product

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

Availability: 15 left in stock
Fulfilled by Amazon
Arrives Thursday, Dec 26
Order within 56 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Description

Established in 1986, the U.S. Special Operations Command was set up to bring the special operational disciplines of all branches of the military under a single, unified command to act on missions involving unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, and direct action... 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. 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. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton Caliber; Reprint edition (June 2, 2015)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 5


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 05


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.03 x 0.95 x 8.94 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #536,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #558 in Intelligence & Espionage History #1,094 in Military Strategy History (Books) #4,414 in American Military History


#558 in Intelligence & Espionage History:


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Thursday, Dec 26

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Financing through Apple Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Similar Products

Top Amazon Reviews

    • If it can be known, it is in this book.
This book has so much detail that it feels long-winded at times. The author does a good job of making the purpose of this organization well known. Everything done is for a reason and you get to experience the trials and tribulations of a class of top-tier Marines going through CSO school and why it is not a breeze to become a MARSOC CSO. Everything is a test and everything is scored. You never stop being a Marine and that is made crystal clear many times. We had a misconception about going to MARSOC when I was in, but this made it clear that it isn't about beards and getting out of the "normal" Marine Corps regs. In fact the staff have great respect for the conventional corps and hold the MARSOC Marines to an even higher standard. Hate the Corps having you field day and stay within regs, then MARSOC is not the place to go. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2021 by david donchess
    • Outstanding. Please don't judge this book by the first review.
This is not a book about the exploits of MARSOC, nor is it written to be a thriller. This is a book about the training of these exceptional men. As such, the above review is highly inappropriate, and detrimental to the writing of this author as well as insulting to the determination and heroism of these men. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, judging this work as something it is not, and reviewing it as such, is shameful. The first review is based more on the reviewer's misguided judgement in purchasing this work, than it is on the work itself. If he had actually read the book in the context it was meant to be read, as someone interested in the training of those on the tip of the spear, or if he were actually interested in this topic, he would have seen this work for what it is and respected it as such. Military training is not the action packed, sexy stuff of movies, it is arduous, and demanding, and those who endure it should be shown the utmost respect. This book is excellent, and the author did a wonderful job portraying these warriors and their history. To the above reviewer, next time, it would behoove you to stick to reading about fictional characters, and their outlandish exploits, as I am sure you won't be disappointed with that genre. Furthermore, as a matter of integrity, Sir you should correct your review and give this author and these men the respect they deserve. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2014 by Carlos and Meghan
    • and it did a great job with that
I'm young and very interested in applying for MARSOC so I picked this book up for an idea of what to expect, and it did a great job with that. The author speaks very briefly on Marsoc history (which is the most relevant history in this book), but vastly on common marine corps history. This kind of fluff wasted a good few hours of the book, but once you get into it, it's an incredible read. It's a very good book and very motivational for when I go through A&S. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2016 by PioQB13
    • Excellent resource
As usual, Mr Couch has written a book that provides excellent insight into one of the US SOF units, in this case MARSOC. This is a continuation in his series of books covering the US Navy SEALs BUD/S and SQT, US Army RANGERS RASP, and US Army Special Forces SFAS and Q Course. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for providing insight into the newest addition to US SOCOM forces. As an NCO/instructor working on an Assessment Program, I have found all of Mr Couch's books to offer me good value and insight. The only small ding I can give is that very little of the A&S course is actually covered, which is a bit disappointing in order to prevent future candidates attempt to prepare for the ambiguity. However, the focus on the preparation course prior to A&S was something I did not know about, but found very useful. I would rate Mr Couch as the best open source author of US military SOF Assessment & Selection programs. Great book! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014 by Chris
    • Great author, but needs a better editor
This is an interesting book but suffers in the editing. Mr. Couch writes well about modern special operations forces, but the content in this volume wobbles somewhat. His other books are superb, which is what makes me think this one just ran into a bad editor. Too bad, too, because MARSOC had an interesting history getting off the ground, and the Marines serving in the units should have their stories told. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2017 by Pete Johnson
    • From a Marine's perspective
I've read all of Dick Couch's non fiction works about Navy SEAL training, Army Special Forces training, and Army Ranger training. All are in-depth and excellent accounts of the schoolhouses that teach the basic arts of special operations in our modern military. From the very beginning to the end, you feel as you are a part of the class with the students you are reading about. One thing I noted as interesting about this work in particular compared to the others he's written is nothing is written about the Assessment & Selection portion of training due to the command's request. He begins with a brief history of the Marine Corps and the short history of special operations heritage within the Marine Corps. Informative and good stuff. The rest is about the first phase of A&S, ASPOC, and the rest is about ITC. I know guys who have been to this training I learned stuff here that I did not previously know. It's an excellent book and I highly recommend this book as mandatory reading for any Marine considering putting in a package for MARSOC. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2014 by dmcgill0311
    • This is not a book for enjoyment but more so to acquire knowledge about the process ...
If you want to understand how Marine special forces are selected and trained, read this book. This is not a book for enjoyment but more so to acquire knowledge about the process of how Marine enlisted and officers are select and trained to serve as special agents. It talks about the training, the weapons, the values and commitment of those who go into MARSOC, enlisted probably for career, officers for a tour or two. In a few short years the Marine Corps has positioned itself as having a special operation unit equal to and perhaps in some respect better than Navy Seals and Army Special Forces. As a retired Marine Corps officer I was proud to have read and now understand more what MARSOC is about. If you want to learn then read this book. But if you are looking for war stories or a novel look elsewhere. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2014 by Chuck Cameron. - Marine Mustang PA

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.