spec ops: case studies in special operations warfare: theory and practice

the world of special operations has always fascinated me. the idea that a small team can infiltrate behind enemy lines and execute some of the hardest missions imaginable, in the harshest of conditions, never fails to baffle me. my journey to understand the science behind it began when i first heard of the entebbe raid, and that’s how i found this book.

spec ops was written by william h. mcraven, who, 15 years after its publication, became the commander of the u.s. special operations command. as a treatise on the ingredients of successful special operations, the book is admittedly "dry"—and in this case, that is not a flaw.

in this book, which began as his thesis, mcraven argues that every successful special operation shares six key principles: simplicity, security, repetition, surprise, speed, and purpose. to prove his point and illustrate its veracity, he analyzes eight case studies of operations, from world war ii to the 1970s.

on a technical level, this book allowed me to appreciate what truly goes into preparing and executing a spec op. the author's use of the "relative superiority" line to benchmark each operation clearly demonstrates how each of the six elements contributes to the success of the operation.

but beyond the theory, the case studies are amazing stories in and of themselves. from the manned torpedoes used by the italians to the gliders manned by the germans, these accounts are a showcase of human ingenuity, devotion to a greater cause, and bravery. while not its main focus, the book also serves as an excellent reminder of what a great leader looks like in action.

while i had hoped this book would dispel the "magic-like" aura surrounding special operations, it only reinforced my fascination. it leaves you with the thought that the most courageous and brilliant operations are likely the ones we will never hear about.

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