by Michael Johnstone
August 1990. The Cold War is still simmering, and deep in the Carolina pines, soldiers gather at Camp Mackall for one of the Army’s most grueling tests: Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS).
In this raw, personal memoir, Michael Johnstone takes you inside those three relentless weeks of rucksacks, blistered feet, sleepless nights, and the infamous “Team Week” — a gauntlet of punishing tasks designed to break the strongest and expose the weakest. Stripped of his name and reduced to Roster Number 68, Johnstone endured blistering heat, crushing loads, and the constant pressure of the unknown, all for a shot at the coveted Green Beret.
With vivid detail and unflinching honesty, he recounts the pain, the camaraderie, the moments of doubt, and the hard lessons learned when the body breaks but the mind keeps pushing forward. The Week That Never Ends is more than a story of endurance; it’s a reflection on sacrifice, leadership, and the drive to keep moving when every cell in your body begs you to quit.
For fans of military history, memoirs of grit and perseverance, or anyone curious about what it really takes to attempt America’s toughest military selection, this short but powerful book offers a rare, inside look at life on the edge of human endurance.
Michael Johnstone served 22 years in the U.S. Army, including assignments in Airborne and Infantry units. He attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) twice in the early 1990s and graduated from the U.S. Army RANGER School in 1994. His career included leadership positions, deployments, and many other qualifications such as Jumpmaster.
Now retired, Michael writes memoirs that capture the grit, challenges, and lessons of military life during the Cold War and post–Cold War era. The Week That Never Ends is the first in a planned series of short soldier’s memoirs.