They are the Outcasts. Because people don’t want to know what they do.
Alex Brandenburg: SEAL Chief Petty Officer and Outcasts Team Leader. Disobeyed direct orders by refusing to let a deadly terrorist live to kill another day. Francisco “Pancho” Rodriguez and John Landry: SEAL Petty Officers First Class. Took the pursuit of justice into their own hands with explosive results. Catherine “Cat” Fares. Navy Petty Officer. Holds an unbeatable record for pissing off the top brass with her strongly stated opinions on the combat readiness of women.
The team’s mission: Take out the seven terror merchants vying to take Bin Laden’s place. The team’s status: Expendable.
When America’s controversial Phoenix Program was buried during the Vietnam War, a new program rose from its ashes. A top-secret Special Operations unit, with a core mission to combat terror wherever they find it, Bitter Ash grew ever more necessary in a new world of Islamic fanaticism. Now, Bitter Ash is forming a special team, a SEAL Team Six with a difference. It is Tier One, on par with SEAL Team Six and Delta, but it will report directly to Bitter Ash, and its fight will take place under the cover of dark.
With Bin Laden dead, the petty leaders within al Qaeda struggle to assume his role at the top. The president of the United States doesn’t want any of them left to dominate . . . and that means he has only one choice. But doing what’s needed without political repercussions will take a small team flying under the radar. A team capable of finessing the U.N.’s distinctions on national sovereignty and acts of war. A team like the Outcasts.
With no official support from their government and no one to rely on but themselves, the Outcasts must track down each target. Hot on the tail of the third, Brandenburg and the team start to realize that they are closing in on a larger plot, one that puts the security of the United States in dangerous jeopardy. The terrorists are threatening American territory once again, and the Outcasts will have to do what SEALs do best. Whatever it takes to keep their country safe.
Seal Team Six Outcasts by Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin
This book follows a black ops Seal team charged with assassinating terrorists.
I was a bit skeptical reading the book regarding the operational aspects of the book. After reading that both authors are Seals I had to wonder if my skepticism was misplaced. The goals of the Outcasts are laudable and you find yourself hoping that our government is sponsoring a similar program.
The characters and action were good. The only in-depth characterization was on Alex and you had a clear understanding of his motivation.
Three Navy enlisted men have disobeyed orders in their terrorist-fighting assignments for their SEAL units and come close to getting kicked out of the Navy. They did not, however, take actions which “disobeyed” common sense. For example, an administrative-oriented commanding officer ordered a withdrawal from taking out a known terrorist because there was no independent verification of their target and because he had just crossed the Afghanistan border into Pakistan. Sniper Chief Petty Officer Alex Brandenburg was on the scene with the best chance of terminating this “bad guy” after months of effort. He faked a loss of communication and killed the terrorist, knowing that it would probably get him kicked out of the SEALs and probably the Navy. He was consoled by the fact that there was one less terrorist around to take the lives of Americans. Chief Brandenburg’s CO was livid, but didn’t quite have sufficient evidence to prove willfully disobeying orders. He sent the chief back to the U.S. base in what he expected to be disgrace. Following somewhat similar circumstances, two other SEALs find themselves in the same office with the chief in equally precarious positions. A female petty officer named “Cat” Fares, is the fourth individual of this “select group” of those who had messed up royally after she had severely angered a number of powerful individuals, up to and including the U.S. Vice President, because of her pushing for women to be included in combat assignments.
The four fully expected that they would be kicked out of the Navy. They were surprised to find when they met with the Commander of the SEALs that they initiative and independent thinking were being recognized in the form of a chance to redeem themselves. They were offered an opportunity to become the only members of an ultra-secret unit whose assignment was to terminate the seven terrorist individuals who were vying to take Osama bin Laden’s place following his death. Each of the four knew that this assignment was exceedingly dangerous and one from which some or all may not return alive. Nonetheless, they each accepted the opportunity after being told that the successful completion would mean wiping their slates clean of past errors of judgment and allowing them to resume their regular military careers as they desperately wanted to do. Their new team was known as “The Outcasts.”
The seven tasks within their assignment took them from the darkest heart of the terrorists’ home countries to a climb of the Matterhorn where one terrorist was on vacation to a wild chase through New York City. They had to deal with some VERY “hairy” circumstances.
This book does not lack for action. It is very fast-paced and engrossing. I enjoyed it VERY MUCH and recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
I read SEAL TEAM SIX by the same authors and was blown away by it mainly due to it being based on true and actual events. The details in that book was the kicker for me. As they say, the devil is in the details.
Outcasts is a refreshing take on black ops. The story was well-conceived and -developed. Sadly, I couldn't give it five stars because of the details. I felt that there was too much detail on the technical stuff. I would normally want this in a SEAL Team Six story even though it was fictional. However, reading too much HK416s became too tedious for me.
On the other hand, the characters did not have an opportunity to grow. With the exception of Chief Brandenburg, there's very little information on the other characters especially the other Outcasts.
Over all, the book was difficult to put down. I believe Messrs. Wasdin and Templin are well on their way to becoming master story tellers.
This was an okay book, but nothing outstanding about it. I liked the action part, but at times events went a little too smooth for the Outcasts. They would pop in somewhere in the world, knock off a terrorist or two and zip off to the next bad guy with neary any thoughts on it. And the romance between Alex (the lead SEAL) and the lone female agent with them (Cat) seemed way out of place. Am I reading an action novel or one of those steamy SEAL romance books that Amazon has. This book is way over priced at $17.95. I picked it up free as my trial book when I signed up at a book subscription service. The writing came across as a tad too simple, like it was written for YA.
Definitely outside my usual reading box, but once I read the chapter one excerpt …I was hooked.
It does get technical on the weaponry, locations, and military jargon at times….but not so much so that the story is unreadable or un-enjoyable for a civilian such as myself. For those that are into all the scopes and gadgets and Tangos and the like, you’ll adore that aspect of the writing because it comes from true insiders that have been there before. For me, I was content in summing those sections up in my mind with…okay, they have a gun…and so on. May not be as exciting to some, but it worked for me.
The intensity of the situation despite how quietly it was being carried out is what grabbed my attention in the excerpt. It was a desperately tedious time in an operation that had been planned out for weeks with everything on the line…and it was all about to go down in flames. The moment comes. The order is given. The outcome…not what you’d expect from an upstanding soldier so highly regarded amongst his peers and yet you may have a hard time condemning him.
It’s that unexpected edge, that twist you didn’t see coming that keeps this story moving as the off-the-grid officers check off those on their list. They are an elite group of misfits specially trained by the world’s finest to carry out the dirty deeds those ahead of them would or could not accomplish. It puts them in peril time and again while giving you a party to root for along the way. We’re not talking elephants and donkeys here either…I’m talking about the Outcasts themselves.
Their leader and our narrator is Alex; his partners in crime are Pancho, John, and Cat. Each have a story they could tell that led them to their current assignment, but I will not divulge that here. What I will share is that whilst this motley crew of officers starts off rubbing each other the wrong way, they grow to be a cohesive unit; each watching the others back and for some…even a little more. Yes, there is a bit of a romance as well as bromance but those “human” aspects are what help us to connect even more with them. Alex’s back story of how he came to be a soldier will bring a tear to your eye, while John’s makes you wonder about people sometimes. Pancho is a go with the flow kinda guy but can always be counted on to come through when it counts and Cat, well there’s a lot more to her than meets the eye and that depth was much appreciated. Now, on to the story…
It’s centered in the here and now around events much like those that played out both on American soil and afar. The look it gives you “behind enemy lines” is startling, downright scary at times. To think that some people actually teach their children to be that way, to forgo their fellow man if it doesn’t suit their needs in the present moment…it's mind boggling. The acts carried out without a second glance, without even a spare thought for the countless lives that it would change were astounding. I suppose those on the other side of the coin could be thinking those thoughts right back at us…but that’s not a topic I’m even going to attempt to broach. Moving on…let’s talk about the ending.
That was something I needed to work through before I wrote this review. The rest of the story is so action packed between the plotting and the carrying out of plans, the hits and near misses that the final scene, kinda put me out. Now, don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of chase and suspense filled moments, but the actual face off was just kind of …POOF …one of us is over. It could have ruined the book for me actually, especially since it’s over 300 pages; who wants to read that much and then be let down, you know? BUT...here’s the part I had to consider. This work of fiction was written by those that have been in situations similar to that which is described in the book at some point or another in their careers. That scene, that big build up and then a quick over and out for one of the parties, is probably more realistic than most of those we read. Does it mean it should have been so less dramatic in a work of fiction? No…but it stands to reason, they wrote what they know and with everything else considered, I still enjoyed the work overall.
Definitely one for the boys…AND the girls! If you like stories of good versus evil, stories that introduce you to characters that are a bit rough around the edges but mean well in the end, and stories filled with action that’ll have you on the edge of your seat numerous times …this is definitely one to add to your wish list. With enough military ins and outs to satisfy the guys and enough heart for the ladies, it’s a worldwide trek to the ends of the earth and back in the name of those three things we hold dear; life…liberty…and the pursuit of happiness.
*review copy received in exchange for my honest review
I enjoyed "Seal Team Six Outcast" by Howard E. Wasdin because it deals with special forces. This Navy seal named Alex that was kick out of his seal team,because he didn't listen to his commander. Alex's team has to stop an attack on the U.S
This book is about four characters that are on a new seal team that the skipper created. Alex is hyper active and high strung.They are on special missions that only a few people know about. It is happening in present day. This story relates so close to reality it is scarey.
In this story they travel to the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. killing seven high profile terrorist targets. The setting is present day
The theme is about how we should all work together as a team no matter what we do.
I would recommend " Seal Team Six Outcast" to freshmen and beyond ,because it is hard to keep up with the story. It is a fast moving book that goes back and forth to different events. If you are interested in military novels you would really enjoy this book.
Fun read. Lots of terrorist killing action. A couple of plot holes stood out but not too badly. I don't think that these are spoilers. Terrorist steal a Frito lay truck and repaint it as a ups truck. Why not just steal ups truck? Also the intelligence on terrorist whereabouts was a little convenient. These are quibbles. I would read more by these guys.
I really liked this book. Before you read this you should know that it is fictional. However it gives the same feel of reading Howard Wasdin's first book which is non-fiction. I really like how the book is written. Howard Wasdin really adds that 'wow' factor!
Well...it was ok. I don't know if I can give it much more credit than that. I was expecting more since Wasdin's first novel; Seal Team Six: Memoirs..." was better. The dialog was was stinted and simple, the missions unremarkable, and the love interest unemotional. Bleh!
My novel is Seal Team Six by Matt Bissonnette. This novel is about the lives of the members of the Seal Team who were sent on a top secret mission that would change the world run by terrorist.
This book is a form of a documentary in the eyes of these men. The book will start of with the normal lives of these men before they are faced with a huge task that has taken them months to prepare for. These men are the best of the best with few like them. The book will start takes you through a journey leading up the day, the day that what they're training was all for. This book is written to show the amount of time and dedication that was necessary to pull of this operation and take down the largest terrorist in the world and the very man who was behind 9/11. In this book and shows errors that can occur and why you always plan for the worst. This book truly is eye opening to read about the men in this book who will give there life for the freedoms of others.
I would recommend the book to anyone who likes a easy but very informational book about the military. What I liked about this book was how detailed it was. It almost made you feel if you were there when all the action occurred. The one thing that still makes me mad is that the man who wrote the book tried to take all the fame and credit for what occurred on the night of their mission. Read to see what happen in the end to Osama Bin Laden.
Review: Seal Team Six by Stephen Templin and Howard E Wasdin. 03/16/2018
I found this book interesting and educating. People don’t hear much about the Navy Seals because they are a tight group. Howard E. Wasdin is the narrator and he does a great job describing his story that everything is clear and understandable. Wasdin also wrote about the abuse he went through during his childhood. I think because of that is what made him tough and wanting to be a great Seal.
Wasdin’s writing throughout was great detailed insight of their continuous training and how long it takes to become a Seal. In fact I don’t think their training ever stops. They go to so many places for varies training lessons. The environment is also used as a tool. They could have trained six months on one lesson in a blizzard and then do the same training for another six months in a jungle. His story was so informative proving detailed preparation that was done before going on an operation. The undercover incursion into hostile situations and the many types of weapons used were thought provoking and showed how much danger they place themselves in for their Country.
Wasdin wrote about his gruesome and horrific battles experiences and the grief of the loss of one of their own. The life and situations these men and women went through were startling. Wasdin shares the chilling story of the battle of Mogadishu, the Operation Gothic Serpent and how it was carried out in 1993. Their mission was to capture key members of the late Somalian warlord, Mohamad Farrah Aidid.
Seal Team Six were a secret unit are trained with counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and counterinsurgency, which covers gorilla rebellion. One of their curriculum involved practicing land warfare to unarmed Combat. Howard Wasdin takes his readers deep inside the world of Navy Seals, Special Force snipers, and the selected process of Basic Underwater Demolition which, are the toughest and longest military training in the world.
The only reason I’m giving it a star is because I finished reading it. I almost didn’t bother, it was painfully predictable and so cringe. Complete and utter rubbish. And I’m no book snob or anything like that, I read lots of books like this but this was memorable for being so crap. I honestly don’t know how anyone can give this a decent rating.
I've read so many SEAL books and many of the stories are repeated so I wanted to try a novel on them instead. It was a good story, but despite being written by an actual SEAL, seemed cheesy and unbelievable at times. I didn't expect the best writing quality from a SEAL, but would have hoped the co-author/editor would have edited out some of the repetitive terms and helped with the flow.
After disobeying an order from an idiot bureaucrat and taking out a terrorist, a SEAL finds himself on the outs. He gets recruited into the usual super secret unit to take out terrorists.
Nothing out of the ordinary, but the unnecessary romance actually takes the wind right out of the book.
The writing was bad, the character development was bad, the action was bad, the love story was bad. So bad it was cringy & I’m giving it 2 stars for being funny-bad.