Hell Week: Seals in Training

While I have only a passing interest in military matters, this book has given me a whole new appreciation and respect for anyone made of the human steel that could survive Hell Week--especially when the only thing keeping you in is your own will power. I find that the principles of persistence, teamwork, and devotion to ideals apply to many aspects of life, so I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers, military or not.

This book reads like a novel from the point of view of a Master Chief with flashbacks to his own experiences in BUD/S. This provides a more balanced look at the evolutions, which just seem like crazy stunts and torture to anyone who hasn't understood the reasons for them. It also provides a more realistic look at the trainees; they are not glamourous heroes yet; they're students who are so dirty, they can get someone sick by breathing on him.

I would recommend this read to anyone interested in the Seals or the Teams Training in general. The 5 1/2 days of hellweek are described day by day, and done so wonderfully. I would have liked to read more about the rest of the training; however, as the title implies "hell week" is the narrow subject. I plan on enlisting soon and am tryign to gather as much 1st phase of BUDS information as possible. This is a good one. Its also a good read to get you going and motiviated as well.

A lot of good information is available on Navy SEALS, and this book adds to that. It gives detailed information on expectations to make it through HELL WEEK from an insiders view point. Dennis Chalker has a way of writing that is subtle, but powerful. This book may be an autobiography of his BUDS experience, and is a valuable resource for any person who wants to understand HELL WEEK from someone who has been there. From his writing style, I found myself struggling with the Class 78 to get thru every evolution described and immense relief when they were declared "secured". I also enjoyed Dennis Chalker's first book "One Perfect Op". Some readers may expect some kind of movie glitz when they read about Navy SEALS, but the true effort is described in this book- pain, determination, tenacity, stress beyond ordinary imagination, but ultimately the immense pride and respect that comes with the accomplishment of completing Hell Week.