U.S. Special Warfare The Elite Combat Skills Of America's Modern Armed Forces [Paperback]

For many centuries, the job of everyday soldiers, the grunts, was the same- see the hill, take the hill. But the combat role of today's U.S. soldier has undergone a radical change. The recent revolution in the art of soldiering in America emphasizes a smaller, but more highly specialized and technologically equipped, armed force. Now, even everyday soldiers in America's armed forces specialize in elite combat skills that use the very latest high-tech equipment.After basic training, many of today's recruits continue advanced training in one of the new emerging combat specialties, such as urban, mountain and arctic warfare; amphibious, underwater and small boat operations; modern cavalry combat; sniping; military intelligence and psychological warfare; search and rescue procedures, and combat engineering.In lively and entertaining prose, military historian Sam Southworth describes these emerging combat specialties-as well as the training and equipment for each-that characterize America's fighting force today.

Samuel A. Southworthis a researcher and writer living in New York City. He is the editor of the acclaimedGreat Raids in History. In his spare time, he leads mountain wilderness trips for leadership groups.