-
Sua Sponte
- The Forging of a Modern American Ranger
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Military & War
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $29.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Chosen Soldier
- The Making of a Special Forces Warrior
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. More than ever, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces---the legendary Green Berets. In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch draws on nearly a year spent at Special Forces training facilities and offers an unprecedented view of the education of these men.
-
-
Interesting content, horrible narration.
- By Doug on 04-30-14
By: Dick Couch
-
The Reaper
- Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers
- By: Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving
- Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
- Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the best-selling tradition of American Sniper and Shooter, Irving shares the true story of his extraordinary career, including his deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, when he set another record, this time for enemy kills on a single deployment. His teammates and chain of command labeled him "The Reaper," and his actions on the battlefield became the stuff of legend, culminating in an extraordinary face-off against an enemy sniper known simply as The Chechnian.
-
-
Great story
- By SteveS on 11-18-15
By: Gary Brozek, and others
-
Ranger Handbook
- Updated with Commentary from Army Flashcards
- By: Zachary Willey
- Narrated by: Derek Dunbar
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We're passionate about the Army. We share our passion by helping our soldiers and leaders master the basics. The Ranger Handbook is notorious for the dense information and concepts it holds and takes endless hours to digest. This edition is an updated version of the current TC 3-21.76 | Ranger Handbook (April 2017) with corrections to errors and added commentary with useful tips and more thorough explanations on difficult topics to make them more understandable.
-
-
One recommendation for an already great tool.
- By Shy Guy on 08-02-20
By: Zachary Willey
-
Always Faithful, Always Forward
- The Forging of a Special Operations Marine
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Could not finish.
- By Kevspark76 on 08-09-15
By: Dick Couch
-
The Ranger Way
- Living the Code on and off the Battlefield
- By: Kris Paronto
- Narrated by: Kris Paronto
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thousands of people have heard Kris "Tanto" Paronto speak about his experiences in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. But before he was a security contractor, Tanto was a US Army Ranger from Second Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Rangers are trained to lead by being pushed to their physical and mental limits so that they can perform against impossible odds in punishing situations. In The Ranger Way, Tanto shares stories from his training experiences that played a role in his team's heroic response in Benghazi.
-
-
Absolutely awesome
- By Salon Adelle on 06-29-17
By: Kris Paronto
-
Violence of Action
- The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror
- By: Charles Faint, Marty Skovlund Jr., Leo Jenkins
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Paul Boehmer, Emily Durante
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Violence of Action is much more than the true, first-person accounts of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Global War on Terror. Within this audio are the heartfelt, firsthand accounts from and about the men who lived, fought, and died for their country, their regiment, and each other. Objective Rhino, Haditha Dam, recovering Jessica Lynch, the hunt for Zarqawi, the recovery of Extortion 17, and everything in between...
-
-
Excellent book but occasionally hard to follow.
- By Chris Moore on 06-03-20
By: Charles Faint, and others
-
Chosen Soldier
- The Making of a Special Forces Warrior
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. More than ever, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces---the legendary Green Berets. In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch draws on nearly a year spent at Special Forces training facilities and offers an unprecedented view of the education of these men.
-
-
Interesting content, horrible narration.
- By Doug on 04-30-14
By: Dick Couch
-
The Reaper
- Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers
- By: Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving
- Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
- Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the best-selling tradition of American Sniper and Shooter, Irving shares the true story of his extraordinary career, including his deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, when he set another record, this time for enemy kills on a single deployment. His teammates and chain of command labeled him "The Reaper," and his actions on the battlefield became the stuff of legend, culminating in an extraordinary face-off against an enemy sniper known simply as The Chechnian.
-
-
Great story
- By SteveS on 11-18-15
By: Gary Brozek, and others
-
Ranger Handbook
- Updated with Commentary from Army Flashcards
- By: Zachary Willey
- Narrated by: Derek Dunbar
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We're passionate about the Army. We share our passion by helping our soldiers and leaders master the basics. The Ranger Handbook is notorious for the dense information and concepts it holds and takes endless hours to digest. This edition is an updated version of the current TC 3-21.76 | Ranger Handbook (April 2017) with corrections to errors and added commentary with useful tips and more thorough explanations on difficult topics to make them more understandable.
-
-
One recommendation for an already great tool.
- By Shy Guy on 08-02-20
By: Zachary Willey
-
Always Faithful, Always Forward
- The Forging of a Special Operations Marine
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Could not finish.
- By Kevspark76 on 08-09-15
By: Dick Couch
-
The Ranger Way
- Living the Code on and off the Battlefield
- By: Kris Paronto
- Narrated by: Kris Paronto
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thousands of people have heard Kris "Tanto" Paronto speak about his experiences in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. But before he was a security contractor, Tanto was a US Army Ranger from Second Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Rangers are trained to lead by being pushed to their physical and mental limits so that they can perform against impossible odds in punishing situations. In The Ranger Way, Tanto shares stories from his training experiences that played a role in his team's heroic response in Benghazi.
-
-
Absolutely awesome
- By Salon Adelle on 06-29-17
By: Kris Paronto
-
Violence of Action
- The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror
- By: Charles Faint, Marty Skovlund Jr., Leo Jenkins
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Paul Boehmer, Emily Durante
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Violence of Action is much more than the true, first-person accounts of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Global War on Terror. Within this audio are the heartfelt, firsthand accounts from and about the men who lived, fought, and died for their country, their regiment, and each other. Objective Rhino, Haditha Dam, recovering Jessica Lynch, the hunt for Zarqawi, the recovery of Extortion 17, and everything in between...
-
-
Excellent book but occasionally hard to follow.
- By Chris Moore on 06-03-20
By: Charles Faint, and others
-
The Warrior Elite
- The Forging of SEAL Class 228
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military training in the world. What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep?
-
-
Excellent, from Writing to the Narration.
- By Lee on 02-13-12
By: Dick Couch
-
MOB VI: A Seal Team Six Operator's Battles in the Fight for Good over Evil
- By: Justin K. Sheffield
- Narrated by: Justin K. Sheffield
- Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There are special forces. There are US Navy SEALs. There is the select and secretive group of highly trained operators known as SEAL Team Six or MOB VI as they like to call it. And then there is Justin Sheffield. When it comes to talking about the most experienced, effective, and deadly warriors in the world, Sheffield is part of an exclusive group that can be counted on one hand. This audiobook is uncompromising, raw, violent, and real.
-
-
if you wanna know what it's like.
- By Andre on 03-28-21
-
A Night in the Pech Valley
- A Memoir of a Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Global War on Terrorism
- By: Grant McGarry
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A Night in the Pech Valley is Grant McGarry's account of what it takes to become an Army Ranger and what life is like in the 75th Ranger Regiment. More importantly, it is about an operation in the most dangerous terrain for US forces anywhere in the world. The Pech Valley is surrounded by Taliban-filled mountains on the Pakistan border in the Kunar Province, where the mountain peaks push 10,000 feet.
-
-
RANGER UP! Then buy this book
- By Salon Adelle on 03-08-17
By: Grant McGarry
-
The Finishing School
- Earning the Navy SEAL Trident
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In America's new war, the first guns in the fight are special operations forces, including the Navy SEALs, specially trained warriors who operate with precision, swiftness, and lethal force. In the constantly shifting war on terror, SEAL units - small in number, flexible, stealthy, and efficient - are more vital than ever to America's security as they take the battle to an elusive enemy around the globe. This is essential listening for anyone who wants to know what goes into the making of America's best warriors.
-
-
helps me want to be a better me
- By Kindle Customer on 06-11-18
By: Dick Couch
-
Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story
- By: Dick Couch, William Doyle
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Written with the unprecedented cooperation of the Naval Special Warfare community, here is the definitive history of the U.S. Navy SEALs, a thrilling chronicle that reveals the inside story behind the greatest combat operations of our nation’s most celebrated warriors.
-
-
great history of seals
- By Spike Hopkins on 01-15-19
By: Dick Couch, and others
-
Murphy's Law
- My Journey from Army Ranger and Green Beret to Investigative Journalist
- By: Jack Murphy
- Narrated by: Jack Murphy
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For fans of the New York Times best sellers The Last Punisher and Lone Survivor, a heart-pounding military memoir from a former Army Ranger sniper and Special Operations weapon sergeant turned journalist about the incredible highs and devastating lows of his career.
-
-
Great book
- By NL_Guy on 04-26-19
By: Jack Murphy
-
By Honor Bound
- Two Navy SEALs, the Medal of Honor, and a Story of Extraordinary Courage
- By: Tom Norris, Dick Couch - contributor, Mike Thornton
- Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In April of 1972, SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris risked his life in an unprecedented ground rescue of two American airmen who were shot down behind enemy lines in North Vietnam, a feat for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor - an award that represents the pinnacle of heroism and courage. Just six months later, Norris was sent on a dangerous special reconnaissance mission that would take his team deep into enemy territory. On that mission they engaged a vastly superior force.
-
-
The real deal
- By robert on 02-28-18
By: Tom Norris, and others
-
Inside Delta Force
- The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit
- By: Command Sergeant Major Eric L. Haney
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Delta Force—the US Army’s most elite top-secret strike force. They dominate the modern battlefield, but you won’t hear about their heroics on CNN. No headlines can reveal their top-secret missions, and no book has ever taken readers inside—until now. Here, a founding member of Delta Force takes us behind the veil of secrecy and into the action to reveal the never-before-told story of First Special Forces Operational Detachment-D (Delta Force).
-
-
Both a How To book and a bit of history
- By K on 10-30-11
-
Delta Force
- A Memoir by the Founder of the U.S. Military's Most Secretive Special-Operations Unit
- By: Charlie A. Beckwith, Donald Knox
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wanted: Volunteers for Project Delta. Will guarantee you a medal. A body bag. Or both. With this call to arms, Charlie Beckwith revolutionized American armed combat. Beckwith's acclaimed memoir tells the story of Delta Force as only its maverick creator could tell it - from the bloody baptism of Vietnam to the top-secret training grounds of North Carolina to political battles in the upper levels of the Pentagon itself. This is the heart-pounding, first-person insider's view of the missions that made Delta Force legendary.
-
-
Good Military History
- By Drew on 02-01-15
By: Charlie A. Beckwith, and others
-
Code over Country
- The Tragedy and Corruption of SEAL Team Six
- By: Matthew Cole
- Narrated by: Braden Wright
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Investigative journalist Matthew Cole tells the story of the most lauded unit, SEAL Team 6, revealing a troubling pattern of war crimes and the deep moral rot beneath authorized narratives. From their origins in World War II, the SEALs have trained to be specialized killers with short missions. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan became the endless War on Terror, their violence spiraled out of control. Code Over Country details the high-level decisions that unleashed the SEALs’ carnage and the coverups that prevented their crimes from coming to light.
-
-
chip on the author's shoulder
- By Ted on 03-07-22
By: Matthew Cole
-
When the Killer Man Comes
- Eliminating Terrorists as a Special Operations Sniper
- By: Paul Martinez, George Galdorisi - contributor
- Narrated by: Paul Martinez, Nicholas Irving - foreword
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
America has one force with the single mission of direct action to capture or kill the enemy. That force is the 75th Ranger Regiment. Staff Sergeant Paul Martinez was a Ranger Sniper with the 75th Rangers during the desperate fighting in Afghanistan in 2011 when the United States made the decision to try to withdraw from Afghanistan. It was never going to be easy. There were still a large number of senior Taliban and al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists in secure locations throughout that country.
-
-
Didn't finish.
- By KB on 11-12-18
By: Paul Martinez, and others
-
Leadership and Training for the Fight
- A Few Thoughts on Leadership and Training from a Former Special Operations Soldier
- By: Paul R. Howe
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tested and effective leadership and teaching advice based on riveting combat stories from a Special Operations veteran. In Leadership and Training for the Fight, MSG Paul R. Howe, U.S. Army Retired, shares ideas on leadership that he has developed through extensive combat experience. Howe tells riveting stories of military operations and analyzes leadership concepts. He also gives advice on how to understand students and how to refine your teaching methods. Written with the unique insight of a Special Operations soldier, this book is the perfect guide for anyone interested in improving leadership skills.
-
-
Tactical Training - must read
- By Sheepdog627 on 01-21-15
By: Paul R. Howe
Publisher's Summary
The 75th Ranger Regiment is a unique and distinct culture among the American military establishment. They stand alone, even among our other Special Operations forces, as the most active brigade-sized force in the current Global War on Terrorism. Since 9/11, the Regiment has been the only continuously engaged unit in the Army, and has had 40 percent of its number deployed in harm's way for the last decade. Their mission is unique. Rangers do not patrol, they don't train allied forces, nor do they engage in routine counterinsurgency duties. They have a single-mission focus: they seek out the enemy and they capture or kill them. This sets Rangers apart as pure, direct-action warriors.
Army Rangers are not born; they are made. The modern 75th Ranger Regiment represents the culmination of 250 years of American soldiering. As the nation's oldest standing military unit, the Regiment traces its origins to Richard Rogers' Rangers during the pre-Revolutionary French and Indian War, through the likes of Francis Marion and John Mosby, to the five active Ranger battalions of the Second World War, and finally, to the four battalions of the current Ranger regiment engaged in modern combat. Over that period, a standard of professional excellence and the forging of that excellence is distilled in the selection, assessment, and training of today's Rangers.
Granted unprecedented access to the training of this highly restricted component of America's Special Operations Forces in a time of war, retired Navy Captain Dick Couch tells the personal story of the young men who begin this difficult and dangerous journey to become a Ranger. Many will try but only a select few will survive to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment. Sua Sponte follows a group of these aspiring young warriors through the crucible that is ranger training and their preparation for direct-action missions in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
Critic Reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about Sua Sponte
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J. Pratt
- 08-13-12
Great in-depth history...not overly entertaining
If you could sum up Sua Sponte in three words, what would they be?
Very VERY thorough
How could the performance have been better?
The tone and tempo of the narrator reminds of the 40's and 50's. Seems very artificial and uptight. Needs to be more relaxed and flowing.
Any additional comments?
Tons of great history. I think I was looking at a more entertaining look at the Rangers, stories, etc. This was a very ra-ra-ra cheerleading piece and as the other reviewer mentioned, a great recruiting book.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Norman
- 10-01-12
Knowing the 75th Ranger Regiment standards.
What did you love best about Sua Sponte?
Pull no punches story about the 75th ranger training and standards.
What did you like best about this story?
Personnal accounts from the ranger trainee's point of view.
What does Pete Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I like the way Mr. Larkin narrated.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Becoming a ranger in a ranger regiment.
Any additional comments?
I love this story.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Timothy, Toronto, ON.
- 07-17-12
A Great Script For A Recruiting Film
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
I was very disappointed by this book. It has the tone and style of an Army recruiting film that might be shown to high school kids. I don't intend this to be a criticism of the Rangers rather, it's a comment on a style of writing that belongs in a Valentine's Day card.
What could Dick Couch have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Start over again.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Sua Sponte?
The preface and introduction are nothing more than cheerleading.
Any additional comments?
The Unforgiving Minute is a more engaging and thoughtful book on the same subject.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- I. perry
- 02-08-19
Too relaxed and pleasant
The information is good, but the narration is awful. I was in the regular army, nothing I experienced was ever as pleasant as this sounds. It comes across as a bunch of wide eyed little boys with southern drawls having a swell time together. I don't think that anyone listening to this would have any idea what they are getting themselves into by joining.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dylan
- 04-21-21
Meh
😂 💤 😎 😘 🤮 👈 🍆 💦 😁 🦃 😭 🤦♂️ 🎉 😤 👻
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dustin Faultner
- 11-05-19
Great book
Dick Couch does a great job of showing the world what it's like for a soldier going through RASP. Sua Sponte takes the reader from day one through graduation and acceptance into the 75th Ranger Regiment. Great read. I highly recommend.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kindle Customer
- 05-08-18
interesting for military history folks
technical but felt somewhat distant. almost somewhat sugarcoated. would have liked to hear about some of the guys that didn't make it. he tells some vignettes, but I'm left thinking the Ranger machine doesn't tolerate real people. Mr. Couch's fiction work is better
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Stan J. Mckay
- 10-09-17
An awesome book
I really enjoyed this book (three times already). Wish it had more information about training after RASP (besides Ranger School). The author wrote two books on Seal training and I’d love to see him write more about the Rangers (or another book about the Special Forces. There aren’t that many books I listen to multiple times.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Darren Sapp
- 08-11-17
Rangers Lead the Way
Any additional comments?
No one tells the stories of how men become Seals, Rangers, Green Berets, and Force Recon better than Dick Couch. This is a reader, not some stuffy list of training requirements.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jon Burnley
- 06-18-15
RLTW
A very in depth and interesting look at Rangers. Excellent job! As good as the author's other works.