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Beyond the Call: Three Women on the Front Lines in Afghanistan Kindle Edition

by Eileen Rivers (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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A riveting account of three women who fought shoulder-to-shoulder with men and worked with local women to restore their lives and push back the Taliban

They marched under the heat with 40-pound rucksacks on their backs. They fired weapons out of the windows of military vehicles, defending their units in deadly battles. And they did things that their male counterparts could never do--gather intelligence on the Taliban from the women of Afghanistan. As females they could circumvent Muslim traditions and cultivate relationships with Afghan women who were bound by tradition not to speak with American military men. And their work in local villages helped empower Afghan women, providing them with the education and financial tools necessary to rebuild their nation--and the courage to push back against the insurgency that wanted to destroy it. For the women warriors of the military's Female Engagement Teams (FET) it was dangerous, courageous, and sometimes heartbreaking work.

Beyond the Call follows the groundbreaking journeys of three women as they first fight military brass and culture and then enemy fire and tradition. And like the men with whom they served, their battles were not over when they returned home.
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  1. Print length
    275 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    November 6, 2018
  5. File size
    32.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A riveting story about three remarkable women soldiers and the incredible impact their service as a Female Engagement Team (FET) had on the war efforts in Afghanistan. They were able to win the trust of Afghan women and children, restoring faith in the future and improving quality of life...all this while still doing the heavy lifting required of a United States soldier in combat."--General Ann Dunwoody(U.S. Army, Ret.), author of A Higher Standard


"A compelling story, too long untold. Eileen Rivers reveals the power of women--of women in the U.S. military in Afghanistan, playing a crucial role in intelligence gathering that was impossible for their male counterparts. And the power of the Afghan women with whom they forged a bond. For the Afghan women, the war isn't over, of course. And the American women faced battles of their own when they got home. If you start reading Eileen Rivers's book, you won't be able to stop. Some of it will make you angry. Much of it will make you proud."--Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief, USA TODAY


"Today, women are on the front lines of our nation's wars all over the globe. Yet little has been written about them or the struggles they endure--both on and off the battlefield. Until now. Eileen Rivers's account of three women who served in Afghanistan is both a gripping narrative and a sharp analysis of a historic cultural shift in our nation's military. We owe it to the men and women who serve in our armed forces to understand this pressing issue. This book is a great place to start."--Jim Michaels, author of A Chance in Hell: The Men Who Triumphed Over Iraq's Deadliest City and Turned the Tide of War


"[The] story of the fight for women's rights in a country where the male power structure opposes them...Compelling. The author's own military experience gives the book a perspective that is especially useful. A solid, fact-filled look at an underreported piece of the American military."―Kirkus Reviews

"As an intimate primer on the FET program, Rivers' account, which includes a historical overview of American women in combat, is of clear interest."
―Booklist

"Beyond the Call...makes an important contribution to understanding the evolving role of women in service to their country. [Rivers] ably documents how females in arms, who represent 16 percent of America's military, make their nation stronger."―USA Today

"Author Eileen Rivers, besides being an Army veteran herself, is now a USA Today editor and has been reporting on veteran affairs for 15 years, so it is evident that she knows whereof she speaks."
―New York Journal of Books

"Will please both casual readers and those seeking a deeper understanding of American efforts in Central Asia...[Rivers] maintains tension and interest in the women's stories without relying too heavily on descriptions of combat, wartime atrocities or battlefield trauma...Beyond the Call deserves a place on military professional reading lists."―Military Times

"These untold stories detail accounts of the fight for gender equality within the American military and within Afghanistan, shedding light on the relationships and experiences that shaped the war effort. As a veteran herself, the author weaves in her own experiences, which add useful insight to the narrative...Well worth a read. Recommended to those with an interest in the war in Afghanistan, military history, women's history, gender studies, and biography."―Library Journal

About the Author

Eileen Rivers is a USA Today editor and editorial board member. Formerly with the Washington Post, she has been writing and reporting on veteran affairs for more than fifteen years and has produced several multi-media online interactives covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A veteran of the US Army, she served in Kuwait following Desert Storm where she was sent into the former combat zone as an Arabic linguist, collecting and translating information from enemy targets. Rivers lives in Laurel, Maryland.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075CNDZW5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (November 6, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 6, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 32.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 275 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0306903083
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

About the author

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Eileen Rivers

Eileen Rivers

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Eileen Rivers is a digital content editor for USA TODAY's Editorial Page for which she creates online interactive content. She won an Emmy for her recent "Re-entry Project" during which she headed a team of journalists who visited prisons across the country to tell the stories of repeat offenders. Her goal in developing, editing and publishing the project was to get the stories behind America's recidivism numbers and figure out what's lacking for prisoners in the U.S. compared with other developed countries -- all of which, but one, have lower recidivism rates.

She has been a journalist for more than 20 years, covering government, crime, incarceration and the military. Before becoming an editor at USA TODAY, Eileen was a copy editor at The Washington Post and wrote for the Post's Real Estate, Metro and Arts sections.

Eileen was an Arabic linguist in the U.S. Army and served in Kuwait after the Gulf War. She was also a Spanish linguist and served on intelligence collection missions in Central and South America.

"Beyond the Call," her first book, focuses on the work of three women who served on Female Engagement Teams during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A native Marylander, she lives in a suburb near D.C., and has two incredibly stubborn (but sweet) cats.

Visit her website at beyondthecallonline.com.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Judy W
    5.0 out of 5 stars Women can do the job!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Until I read this book, I had no idea of the role played by women in the war in Afghanistan, or in the military in general, for that matter. Not only does this book highlight the amazing compassion and courage of these women, but demonstrates that they fulfill roles that men cannot possibly fill given the culture and religion of the area. I was amazed at the strength of wisdom and character of each of the three women. They are a true inspiration and I am immensely proud of each of them!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Suzanne Kelley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book that is meant to be read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting, thorough, and well written. I’m going to have my daughters read this book because the stories in this book need to be shared.
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  • Mary L. Schmidt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Semoer Fi
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A a Woman Marine Veteran, I highly recommend this book. It demonstrates what women in the military did and are doing.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J.Michael Siemens
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informative
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Highly recommend!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Eva Nevarez St John
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highlights the Value Women Bring to Combat
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
    This is an excellent book that shows the value women bring to combat environments. I especially like how the book started with the history of women in the military. Our roles were limited even when I served from 1976-1982. It wasn't until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that women were "allowed" to serve in combat. This book highlights the roles of women in war, including Jamila Abbas, a brave Afghan woman; Captain Breslow, who helped initiate the Female Engagement Teams in 2004; Sergeant Sheena Adams; Major Maria Rodriguez; and Captain Johanna Smoke. These women demonstrate that women can not only meet the demands of combat, but they also contribute in ways that men can't.
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  • Rhonda
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2019
    I was drawn to this book because one of the three women in the book is my cousin. I was hooked in the first chapter. It is eye opening to see what women in the military are doing and how little credit they get. It was extremely well written and you can tell that the author, Eileen Rivers, spent quality time in the areas and with the soldiers. I have passed the excellence of this book on to my friends and encouraged them to read it also.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Peter Murray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opener!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2019
    An illuminating read about so many challenges faced by women in Afghanistan - and by women in the U.S. military. Rivers’ reporting is fast-moving and engaging. A must read for for those interested in learning about the shamefully under-reported and misinformed role of our women on the front lines.
    One person found this helpful
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