'Offers key insights into the commando's mind.' Warfare magazine It is easy to visualise special-operations troops as men in camouflage with painted faces, lurking in the shadows of modern warfare. But the truth is far more complex - and enthralling. This book shows the remarkable array of skills required to be one of the world's fighting elite, detailing the equipment he uses to carry out his missions and the techniques he employs. Learn how to select a drop zone for parachute insertions. Find out how combat swimmers launch from submarines to carry out beach reconnaissance prior to an invasion. Understand the knowledge required to fight and, more importantly, survive in such hostile environments as jungle, desert or mountain. Discover how today's special operative must master skills as diverse as horsemanship and computing, or how to kill silently with a knife or laser designator. Written by a leading authority in the field, this well-organised illustrated guide shows exactly what makes the specialist soldier so very 'special'. This is a must-have for anyone interested in the covert world of elite forces.