Jacob’s Reviews > Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 > Status Update

Marcus and his team — Danny, Axe, and Mikey— are moving in on the location of the suspected Taliban official. Before the mission, they didn’t feel right, like something was off, and they were right. There was a full moon, and they were right out in the open. I predict they will get found, but who knows what will happen then. (S/P)

After training and graduation, Marcus, with his now complete backstory, flashes back to the point where he and his team are about to start the mission they flew to Afghanistan for— Operation Redwing. One thing that I don’t understand is why ROE (rules of engagement) are so strict, even for SEALs? It makes it so easy for the Taliban to find loopholes, and the SEALs know it but can’t do anything about it. (S/A)

With phase one complete of BUD/S Marcus and the others moved on to stage two and stage three, where they learned the skills they needed to be ready as a SEAL for missions and emergencies. This includes navigation, gun assembly/disassembly, and sniper training. Soon, Marcus and only 20 others graduate as SEAL class 226 and are out for revenge because of 9/11. (Summary)

Crazily enough, Marcus and only 30 other recruits made it to the end of hell week. They know the worst is behind them, and they continue to work for the remaining weeks of BUD/S. It’s amazing what the human body, combined with the will power of the mind, can really do, and I don’t know these men found the strength to get through hell week. (Summary)

Also, the way the book is written is awesome so far. There is so much detail that you can really feel each moment as you’re reading. I love this book so far, and I can’t wait to read more.

The remaining trainees are about to enter hell week, where they will be pushed harder than ever before. Only about 50 people are left because the rest quit or were forced out because they lacked ability. These men are about to prove whether or not they can become a SEAL,and it’s going to be very competitive. (Summary)

The trainees have finished Indoc and are about to begin BUD/S. This is the biggest part of SEAL training, and I predict it will be the most difficult and strenuous. (Summary/Prediction)

Quote: “Marcus, the body can take damn near anything. It’s the mind that needs training...” This quote, by instructor Reno, shows what the SEALs are looking for from class 226. The mental strength involved in training is just as tough, if not tougher, than the physical strength. It seems impossible, but somehow people do it. (Summary)

Marcus, in the first two chapters, basically gave the reader a perspective on what’s going on. He has explained his backstory, the backstories of his teammates, and the current state of the Taliban in Afghanistan. All of this happens on the flight to his mission there. Now it looks like he will be explaining his SEAL training in chapter 3, “A School for Warriors.” (Summarize)

Tantamount- equivalent in seriousness to
Draconian- excessively harsh and severe
(Vocabulary)