Review of Andy McNabs Immediate Action is now online An insight story into the British Army and the history and life of one of the most highly decorated soldiers, Andy McNab. An insight story into the British Army and the history and life of one of the most highly decorated soldiers, Andy McNab. McNab is one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the British Army, and is probably most famous for his account of call-sign ‘Bravo Two Zero’, where an eight man SAS team was deployed into Iraq for the first Gulf War (1991). There are discrepancies in the retelling of what ‘Bravo Two Zero’ was tasked to do, but as per McNabs account, the mission was to find and destroy Iraqi Scud Missiles. Quickly into the operation, the team was compromised and were forced to evade, on foot, to Syria. McNab was captured and held captive for six weeks. Immediate Action is an autobiography about McNabs youth as a thief and a delinquent, through to the anticipation of a call to go to Kuwait. We learn about his career, the hidden secrets and insider insights into the Green Jackets and the SAS, as well as McNab being totally devout to the Army. Each chapter is a breakdown into McNabs life, thus, each chapter is a story on its own. In the first, McNab witnesses death at an early age at being only eight years old. We’re lead to believe that this changes him, stating that he’d had ‘a very ordinary childhood up until then’. And also to admitting to being in a very poor family with his parents being ‘unemployed for most of the time’. As said earlier, McNab was a delinquent and had run-ins with the law and was involved in a gang where petty crimes were committed. McNab thought that the Army was the chance to get away from this, and it was. McNab wanted ‘to fly helicopters’, but was swiftly put in his place and was placed into the Royal Green Jackets – part of the Infantry Division; much to his dads displeasure. From here on, we learn about the training and information that is usually kept secret. McNab isn’t shy about the missions that he was on and what he undertook during his time, this is an extremely honest account – including the time he found himself in a gay-bar and also writing down that he failed the gruelling Selection process into the SAS first time round. In Immediate Action, there are a lot of personal references, including a number of failed marriages and we can see how much of McNabs life was totally Army-focused. Nothing came before the Army, it was as if it was his drug, his fix; up until his child came along. I will be reviewing Bravo Two Zero. Although Immediate Action doesn’t go into this, it does touch on it briefly at the end. McNab tells us that he is going to get the call to Kuwait, but doesn’t want to worry his wife. I was left confused, and rather underwhelmed by Immediate Action. I expected more, more… action. Although the accounts are extremely detailed, it feels as if most of Immediate Action was quickly written and parts were easily overlooked, which is a great shame. My favourite part of the book is when McNab talks about his experiences in the Selection process, he isn’t shy about the fact that he failed. He describes how tough it is and how a high level of fitness, stamina and, ultimately, determination was needed – and is still needed to this day as the process hasn’t changed. There are 3 big missions that are included in Immediate Action, and these are well written and paint a true picture. At times, it’s hard to believe that this actually happened and it is a true story. Immediate Action has me scratching my head, it is a good read, but it needs time and patience. I have read this book cover to cover, and as I am writing this review, I am struggling to remember what happened – even when I made notes as I went. Despite this, I would read this book again and I do recommend it. It is very interesting and you do learn a lot about the Army in the seventies, as well as how it hasn’t changed for years. I will come back to this book again to see if my feelings and thoughts change. #andymcnab #andymcnabbook #immediateaction #blog #review #reviewedbyluke
