Kirjahaku

The date is the 6 June 1944. The paratroopers on board the aircraft are crammed together, joking and singing over the drone of the engines, none of them dwelling on the gnawing fear in their guts. They reach the French coastline, and everyone goes quiet when loud explosions and flashes erupt around the aircraft. Pilots desperately dodge and swerve through the cool night air while the men hold firm, preparing to jump. They reach the open door; the green light flicks on and they leap without hesitation into a sky lit up by flak, ready to meet their fate. One after another, thousands of white parachutes billow out and the men fall through the air not knowing where they might land or if they will even survive the drop; but their minds are set. They are clear about their mission and its critical importance as part of the bigger picture. Some ’chutes do not open, weapons and kit are torn off in the slipstream, and anti-aircraft guns pick men off and many never make it to the ground alive. The Normandy landings of 1944 were just one of the many famous operations in the stunning history of the Paras. This book by former paratrooper Jason Woods gives the reader an unprecedented snapshot of the role that these brave and determined paratroopers have played throughout their history, demonstrating not only the courage, strength and fitness of the men who make up this mighty regiment, but also their intelligence, compassion, and wicked sense of humour. This powerful journey through aspects of all the key wars and conflicts that the regiment has been engaged in over the last eighty years is made through the eyes of those who served. The book reveals how the Paras have become seen as an elite fighting force, feared by those who have had the misfortune to come up against them on the field of battle. This book covers challenging operations in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. It includes an exciting overview of Operation Telic in Iraq, the epic battles in Afghanistan, and subsequent withdrawal of all British citizens and troops from Kabul in 2021, on Operation Pitting. Packed with short interviews and poignant quotes, many original and never seen before, from current and former Paras, the author highlights the regiment’s constant evolution, as the battlefield conditions have changed, into today’s modern 16 Air Assault Brigade Rapid Reaction Force and Special Forces Support Group, whilst always maintaining the core standards and ethos embodied in the regimental motto Utrinque Paratus – ‘Ready for Anything’. Finally, get a glimpse into the transition many Paras make when they eventually leave the regiment and join the secretive private security industry, known as the ‘Circuit’.

'RIVETING. INSPIRING. UTTERLY AUTHENTIC.' - Damien Lewis, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of Zero Six BravoFrom boy soldier to paratrooper, private security operator to successful business entrepreneur. This is the story of a natural-born warrior.Despite a fear of heights, Jason Woods passed into the Paras and patrolled the streets of West Belfast. Despite a lack of sea legs, he protected shipping lanes from Somali pirates. He faced the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, outwitted the insurgents in Iraq and worked alongside revolutionaries in Libya as they fought to oust Gaddafi.Jason Woods lived and worked with diverse people from all walks of life, from local tribesmen in Sudan, to the Nigerian mobile police units in the Niger Delta. He worked the bars and night club doors of London and protected the ultra-rich and famous in their castles and mansions around the world. His career tracked many of the world's most recent conflicts and wars, and he witnessed first-hand the toppling of recent history's most notorious dictators.With stoicism, a large helping of military humour and a down-to-earth commitment to getting the job done, Jason Woods survived bombings, shootings and rocket bombardments, the constant threat of IEDs and capture by insurgents. This is the story of no ordinary man, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in military life and operations.Praise for Long Road to Libya: 'Extraordinary and gripping account of Jason's time operating in war zones, for a part of which I worked alongside him. Highly recommended if you want a riveting and honest read' - Ollie Ollerton, SAS WHO DARES WINS and author of Break Point & Battle Ready'Jason tells the story of his life as a soldier, a paratrooper, and a security operator at the extremes of the circuit - one minute he's working in luxurious surroundings protecting high-net-worth families, in the next he's operating in austere and hostile environments around the world. Ultimately, after lots of hard work, and trial and error, Jason overcomes adversity and reaches his goal as a successful executive and entrepreneur. Jason's story is an honest and at times thrilling account of a life lived at the sharp end' - Goodreads reviewJason Woods was born in Basingstoke in 1972 and began his military career with the Light Infantry in 1988, transferring to the Paras two years later. Upon leaving the Paras he worked in private security as a bodyguard, and then set up his own company. He ran a successful security risk management business in Libya, which he sold in 2018, and is now a writer.