"Details the history of U.S. Special Operations with the help of statistics"--

It's the inside scoop on US military special operations. From weapons, gear, missions, and commandos, learn every military secret from the eighteenth century to today. Few aspects of the US military pique people's interest more than special ops. Due to the clandestine nature of their missions, weapons, and gear, these elite fighting forces are cloaked in an aura of intrigue that has only ratcheted upward with the expanded roles they have assumed in today's world, not to mention their recent and frequent appearances in film, books, and other mass media. In US Special Ops, longtime military author and special-ops expert Fred Pushies takes on the entire scope of America's elite fighting forces, beginning with their earliest days. Pushies profiles hundreds of weapons, gear, vehicles, missions, and commandos, from eighteenth-century fighters like Francis Marion right up through the most advanced capabilities of today's Green Berets, Rangers, SEALs, Marine Force Recon, US Air Force combat controllers, CIA Special Activities Division, and more - well over 350 entries in all. From the tomahawks used by Rogers's Rangers to special-ops legends like Col. Aaron Bank to Operation Neptune Spear and beyond, US Special Ops is a comprehensive, informative, and unique survey of all aspects of US special operations, past and present.

This work argues for a shift in expectations for "unconventional warfare" with a greater willingness to accept lengthy commitments and incremental progress.

Describes the position of the U.S. special operations forces in terms of their preparedness for possible military requirements.

Special Ops fighting forces like the Navy SEALS, Green Berets, and Delta Force accomplish impossible-seeming feats while up against extraordinary odds on every single mission. It takes great leadership skills to guide these teams to victory, and these same principles can be used just as effectively in the workplace. "Secrets of Special Ops Leadership" reveals the key principles behind Special Ops leadership, illustrating them with dramatic real-life stories of different special ops forces in action. "Secrets of Special Ops Leadership" shows business leaders how to lead to win, no matter what obstacles they and their organisation face.

Eminent scholar John Prados brings his deep expertise to the subject of the US Special Forces and provides an essential primer on its various components