The newly released memoir of a former MARSOC critical skills operators has already landed on the 2015 recommended reading list of U.S. Special Operations Command chief Gen. Joseph Votel III.
Level Zero Heroes, by Michael Golembesky and John Bruning, offers a rare look inside the Marines' special operations command, which was activated in 2006 and has maintained a low profile in its formative years. The book, which debuted in September on the New York Times Best Seller list, also gives an unvarnished view, through Golembesky's eyes, of MARSOC's operations in Afghanistan during the troop surge and airs criticism of the rules of engagement set in place by then-coalition forces commander Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
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Golembesky said he had learned in December through internal sources that his book had made it on the SOCOM commander's list for 2015. Among the other 18 titles on the list are Seal of Honor, Gary Williams' account of Operation Red Wings and the life of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy; and The Longest War, a history of the conflict between the U.S. and al-Qaida, by Peter Bergen. The list changes completely from year to year.
"To have the commander of all special operations forces say, 'hey, read this book and get a leadership lesson out of it,' is amazing," Golembesky said. "It's under the top category, for leadership, and that just gives testament to the guys who appear in the book."
In the early months of its release, Golembesky said the response to his book has by and large been positive. However, he said, he has yet to hear from any members of MARSOC's leadership. He said he hoped the support of SOCOM in the form of a reading list recommendation might help MARSOC to warm to the book.
"I think the long-term goal I really wanted for the book was, I wanted it to become mandatory reading for guys who are going to go through [the individual training course]," MARSOC's grueling nine-month prerequisite training for critical skills operators, Golembesky said. "I want them to understand not only the culture but also the caliber of the guys you're going to be working with."
