Johan Raath's Books

Blood Money

Stories of an Ex-Recce's Missions in Iraq

By: Johan Raath

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Blood Money

Stories of an Ex-Recce's Missions in Iraq

By: Johan Raath

A former Special Forces soldier—and presidential bodyguard—shares heart-stopping stories of his time as a private military contractor in Iraq. “I remember the cracking sound of the AK-47 bullets as they tore through our windscreen . . . A piece of bullet struck my bulletproof vest in the chest area and another piece broke off and lodged in my left forearm.” Johan Raath and a security team were ambushed in May 2004 while on a mission to reconnoiter a power plant south of Baghdad for an American firm. He had been in the country for only two weeks. This was a taste of what was to come over the next few years as he worked as a private military contractor (PMC) in Iraq. His mission? Not to wage war, but to protect lives. Raath and his team provided security for engineers working on reconstruction projects in Iraq. Whether in the notorious Triangle of Death, in the deadly area around Ramadi, or in the faction-ridden Basra, Raath had numerous hair-raising experiences. Key to his survival was his training as a Special Forces operator, or Recce. This riveting account offers a rare glimpse into the world of private military contractors and the realities of everyday life in one of the world’s most violent conflict zones.

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Page Count

409

Publisher

Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1612006620

ISBN 13

9781612006628

A Breed Apart

The inside story of a Recce's Special Forces training year

By: Johan Raath

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A Breed Apart

The inside story of a Recce's Special Forces training year

By: Johan Raath

Over the years, many have signed up for the South African Special Forces selection course but only a select few have ever passed. The gruelling course pushes recruits to their physical and mental limits. Those who make it through selection still have to complete a demanding year-long training cycle before they can join the ranks of this elite unit. In A Breed Apart, former Special Forces operator Johan Raath offers a rare insider's view on the training he and other young soldiers received in the mid-1980s. Drawing on the reminiscences of his fellow Recces, he describes the phases of selection and training, and offers valuable insights into what makes a successful operator. The courses in the training cycle show the range and standard of Special Forces training, including weapons handling, bushcraft/survival, parachuting, demolitions and urban warfare, as well as seaborne and riverine operations. For Raath and his cycle buddies, the training cycle culminated in an operation in southern Angola where the young Recces saw action for the first time. Much of what Raath underwent still forms part of present-day Special Forces training. Comprehensive and revealing, this book shows why these soldiers truly are a breed apart.

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Page Count

332

Publisher

Jonathan Ball Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

192824825X

ISBN 13

9781928248255

A Breed Apart

The inside story of a Recce's Special Forces training year

By: Johan Raath

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

A Breed Apart

The inside story of a Recce's Special Forces training year

By: Johan Raath

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

332

Publisher

Jonathan Ball Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

192824825X

ISBN 13

9781928248255

Blood Money

Stories of an Ex-Recce's Missions in Iraq

By: Johan Raath

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Blood Money

Stories of an Ex-Recce's Missions in Iraq

By: Johan Raath

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

409

Publisher

Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1612006620

ISBN 13

9781612006628

Book's by Johan Raath

Blood Money

Blood Money

A Breed Apart

A Breed Apart

A Breed Apart

A Breed Apart

Blood Money

Blood Money

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