Howard Phillips

"In the digital age, information is a valuable commodity-especially in the middle of a battlefield. That's where Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance (Recon) units come in. Specially trained for covert operations, these elite soldiers put themselves on the front lines to infiltrate enemy strongholds and gather intelligence. This title explores the history of Marine Force Recon units, describes how they fit into the branch's military structure, and explains...

"To whom does the U.S. military go when it needs a specially trained force to lead the way? The U.S. Army Rangers, of course! This elite, special ops force has been leading the way for other military units for hundreds of years. From the French and Indian War to the modern war on terrorism, Army Rangers have been called upon to enter dangerous territory to find essential information about the enemy. Rangers are trained for covert operations. They're...

"No matter how advanced a military is or how intelligent its members are, the reality is that missions will sometimes fail. The Pararescue units of the U.S. Air Force are responsible for extracting soldiers who are gravely injured or trapped behind enemy lines. Pulled from the Air Force's Special Warfare division, these elite soldiers are not only skilled medics, they're also accomplished survivalists. In this title, readers get a glimpse of what...

"Microbes are everywhere! They live on and under the ground. They live in all kinds of water on Earth, even around the hottest deep-sea vents. They even live on and inside your body! Since the advent of powerful microscopes, scientists have been studying our world's smallest denizens. Many people get scared just hearing the words "bacteria," "fungus," and "virus" because of the diseases they cause. However, scientists have discovered many beneficial...