It is easy to visualize 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. A wide array of skills, both physical and cerebral, combine to make up the modern elite soldier. Themed chapters and a wealth of illustrations explain everything you need to know about these formidably trained warriors. Learn how to selected a drop zone for parachute insertions or how to execute a High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) insertion when you are twenty miles distance from your objective. Find out how combat swimmers launch from submarines to carry out beach reconnaissance prior to an invasion. Understand the special considerations and 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 the compact computer, or how to kill silently with a knife or laser designator.