Book Post #3

As we get towards the middle of the book, the author describes the training and the "try out" in order to become a private military contractor. It goes through the thoughts of all of the instructors and their view on their candidates. All of the candidates need to be excellent marksmen. If you're going to be a private military contractor you need to know how to shoot a gun. Knowing how to fire a weapon is one thing, but being able to shoot a target long range and eliminating him is another. A private military contractor also needs to be able to know how to unjam a gun. If their weapon backfires, also known as a "stovepipe" they need to know the proper procedure without endangering their fellow comrades. As the author goes on he tells the story of one recruit named Don Stout. Don is an ex cop who really needs this job. He recently just got married and tells us, "I've never had to support anyone before." A cop salary just wouldn't be enough for him to support a family. So he made the decision to become a private military contractor. However, the instructors don't think that he is mature enough. But they give him another shot and he ends up making it. In contrast to that, the author tells us about a retired Army Ranger who didn't make the cut. He tells the author that he needed the money in order to try and get custody of his daughter who he never gets to see. He was very upset because two ex cops made it over him and an ex Special Forces soldier. I see where he is coming from and I feel bad for him because he might not see his daughter. However when you're up against 24 year olds, it's hard to match up.