The Special Forces Stories That Never Made Headlines
Chris Brewer's journey from Ranger Battalion to international security expert offers a unique window into global conflicts and covert operations that rarely make headlines. In a recent podcast interview, Brewer shared captivating stories from his 24-year military career and subsequent work in some of the world's most dangerous regions, providing insights that both fascinate and educate about the realities of international security operations.
Brewer's military career began in the Ranger Battalion in 1974, where he trained under NCOs who were veterans of Vietnam's special operations units. This foundation in elite military training shaped his entire career trajectory. The value of this rigorous training became evident as Brewer moved through various roles, eventually becoming a Special Forces officer after making the unusual transition from NCO to officer through OCS (Officer Candidate School). This background provided him with both operational expertise and leadership capabilities that would serve him well in challenging environments worldwide.
Following his military service, Brewer's expertise led him to security contracting work in Afghanistan during the crucial early rebuilding period. His descriptions of Afghanistan before infrastructure development paint a stark picture of a country devastated by war - landmines everywhere, no electricity, and widespread injuries among the population. Brewer was instrumental in establishing security protocols to protect contractors building the first U.S. bases in the country, working closely with local Afghans while navigating complex tribal relationships and emerging threats. His experiences during the eventual U.S. withdrawal were particularly poignant, as he described working frantically to help Afghan colleagues escape the Taliban - efforts that weighed heavily on him and many other veterans with deep connections to the country.
Perhaps most compelling were Brewer's previously classified stories, now cleared for public consumption through his book "In the Shadows Between Wars." His encounter with Pablo Escobar's forces in Colombia reveals how Special Forces teams operated in dangerous environments with minimal support. Tasked with protecting a radar installation that Escobar had threatened, Brewer and his team prepared defenses against an imminent attack from the notorious drug lord's forces. The tension of the standoff and subsequent dangerous extraction through Escobar-controlled territory highlights the real-world dangers these operators faced far from public view.
Brewer's security work extended beyond traditional combat zones into places like the UAE and Nigeria, where he navigated dramatically different cultural and security landscapes. His experiences in Nigeria's oil-rich regions uncovered complex criminal enterprises involving pirates, corrupt officials, and international oil smuggling operations - demonstrating how security expertise must adapt to local conditions while maintaining core principles. These experiences inform his current writing projects, which aim to share valuable insights from his career while respecting classified information that cannot be disclosed.
For readers interested in security, military history, or international affairs, Brewer's books "Old Scroll Ranger" and "In the Shadows Between Wars" offer firsthand accounts of operations that shaped global security over decades. His stories reveal the human side of special operations - the challenges, quick thinking, and adaptability required in environments where threats constantly evolve and support may be limited. As Brewer continues documenting his experiences, his work stands as both historical record and valuable resource for understanding how elite military units operate in the shadows between major conflicts.
