This study of the US Army Ranger takes the reader through the distinct stages of training and acceptance, including the Ranger Indoctrination Program and Ranger Battalion training, and details the developments in Ranger weaponry, equipment and clothing since the early 1980s. Using first hand accounts, it shows what it was like to fight in Panama in 1989, in raid missions in Iraq in 1991 and Somalia in 1993, and brings the unit up to date with the 3rd Battalion's deployment to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom. It also covers the culture of the Rangers, from their special language and terminology, to the rites of passage that lie behind the formal training program.

Mir Bahmanyar served in the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as a machine-gunner and training NCO. He holds a BA in History from University of California at Berkeley and an MA in War Studies from King's College London. Mir has previously worked as a military technical advisor, a German-language coach and as a producer and writer in Hollywood. He has written numerous books and articles on subjects ranging from ancient history to modern warfare, and his work has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Polish and Arabic. Mir's special interests are the Punic Wars, Darby's Rangers and the future of war. He grew up on three continents, in four countries, and currently lives in Toronto, Canada.