Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of a Life in Marine Special Operations

John Dailey has produced an engaging and entertaining look into his career and his relationship with the current state of the Marine Special Operations Command. This book is well written, very well detailed, and difficult to put down. This is one of the few books I have read from cover to cover in a single day.John's ability to walk the reader through a "lifetime" of working with hardened men doing hard things to achieve successes on the battle field is peppered with leadership and humility. The members of MCSOCOM Det 1 were well served to have Ranger Dailey within their ranks.This is the type of reading our young warriors need to understand how important it is to practice to perfection and train in miserable conditions to develop precision and build resilience.My 15 year old son saw this book on our kitchen table, and has decided to read it for a memoir project in his english class--I am looking forward to discussing the book with him as he chips away at it.

This book is a work of art. It not only takes the reader through John's life and career but also gives an in-depth look at the creation of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC). John is as genuine in person as he is in his writing. A humble warrior with his experiences of days past continuing to be trained into the new operators. This book took me through a myriad of emotions. I went from excited to on edge, to prideful and sad. The human experience under fire is often hard to "get right" when putting it into words. John nailed it with this one. If you are a critical skills operator or even seek that as an occupation, you should read this book. Everyone should read this book.

This is hands down the best memoir I’ve read of special operations in the early war on terror. It’s all in here; the training, the culture, the combat.. all told by someone who lived it.‘Det One’ was the secretive, vital missing link in Marine Corps Special Operations connecting the legendary WWII Raiders with today’s MARSOC Raiders. Det One was a rare collection of deadly talent- the Marine Corps taking a no holds barred approach to forming an experimental SOCOM unit.John Dailey was one of the hand picked leaders given wide latitude to select, equip, and train his team. The story needed to be told and Dailey tells it masterfully, leaving life lessons and enduring wisdom from his unique vantage point.This will be an indispensable read for anyone interested in the timeless realities of war, the foundations of current Marine SOF training/ operations, or leadership.Each conflict leaves a very few memoirs which’stick’ and become part of the collective memory. Tough, Rugged Bastards may just be the one for the early GWOT.

“Tough Rugged Bastards” by John Dailey may be one of the best military memoirs I’ve read to date. This book reads like a novel and each chapter pulls you into his world with exquisite detail and expert storytelling in a way that makes the reader feel as if they were apart of these missions. Dailey writes in a way that is both reflective and poetic and if a memoir about war can be beautiful, well, this one is. I learned quite a bit about Marine special operations and their role during the global war on terror. Definitely add this to your library as it is an excellent read!

As a young Corporal at 3rd Recon Battalion in the early oughts I remember hearing whispers of a new unit. Supposedly it was "pulling Staff Sergeants and Gunnies to be point men." The Det was formed, but even decades on, much of it is still shrouded in mystery. Ranger gives an expertly written account of how Det 1 formed, trained, and performed in combat.More than a history lesson, you also get an incisive, raw, honest look at the realities of war. Dailey is a man who has "been there done that" and speaks with the authority of experience. I deeply appreciate his ability and willingness to be vulnerable and lay bare some of the things all men experience at one point or another.A fantastic book by a hard dude - don't pass this one up.

J. A. Dailey's memoir of his career in the Marine Corps and the Reconnaissance and Special Operations is a thoughtful and well-written account of the author's experiences and thoughts on a life of service. It is written from the operator's perspective and shows the tactical level of Det-1's experience. It hearkens to the memoirs written by Robert Leckie, EB Sledge, and William Manchester of their experiences in the specific campaigns in WW2I highly recommend it for all Recondos and Raiders to remember the history and ties that bind us and for anyone who wants to hear about this part of history from an accomplished warfighter and intelligent and thoughtful author.

John Dailey expertly recounts the events that culminated in the formation of MARSOC, one of our nation's most elite special operations units. He masterfully balances humor, candor, and philosophical insight while inviting the reader into an incredibly private world of modern day warriors. We need more Marine Raiders to come forward and share their stories - men & women like John "with strong backs and tough feet."

Ranger Dailey is an outstanding Marine, a great team leader, and a hell of a story teller. His book Tough Rugged Bastards is a story only he could tell. A humble perspective of many great accomplishments that I was honored to be a part of. His perspective and insight into complex problems faced by many in combat is very interesting and smartly told. Thank you for telling the story of Det 1. It was an honor serving with you. Semper Fi.