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Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, two retired Navy SEALs’
recently published book, Extreme Ownership, demonstrates how
they used their leadership abilities in the battle of Ramadi,
Iraq and then applied them to non-military situations.
Many veterans today share the same feelings as Babin regarding
the current Commander-in-Chief. They are dismayed by his lack
of leadership and how he has no coherent strategy on how to
defeat America’s enemies. A quote from the book hammers
this point home, “Some of the politicians and most senior
military brass in Washington felt that killing bad guys only
created more enemies. But they didn’t have a clue…
Each enemy fighter killed meant more US Soldiers and Marines
came home alive.”
Comparing President Obama to President Kennedy, Babin emphasized
that Kennedy was leadership tested, having been a veteran,
versus someone who never served. “Kennedy never backed
down and was not pushed around. He understood what was needed
to support those serving. I look back on the battle of Ramadi
fought in 2006 and remember all the American blood spilled
to take it back. It is now a travesty that the black flag
of ISIS is flying over this city, which was because of the
complete troop withdrawal. However, I am hopeful that by untying
the troops hands and letting them fight can turn it around.
ISIS is not twenty feet tall. If we were committed to eliminating
them it would only be a four to six month problem.”
Because he feels the current administration makes decisions
based on immediate political gain and not on long-term strategy
Babin feels there is a lack of decentralized command, which
he talks about in the book. He points to the first US solider
killed in action in Iraq since 2011. “Why wouldn’t
they use the words ‘killed in combat?’ Its clearly
combat and by not referring to it as such is just a political
argument of semantics. The reality is we have approximately
3400 boots on the ground right now.”
The book also explains how veterans can apply their combat
strategy to their everyday life. Whether business, sports,
or personal, those who served can use what they learned: The
leader is always responsible. Basically, leaders must always
"own" the mistakes and shortcomings of their teams,
everyone on the team must believe in the mission, keep plans
simple, clear, and concise, and act decisively, even when
things are chaotic.
Babin stated, “Take for example a head coach. If he
only makes the decisions himself he will not be very effective.
Instead he needs to set the vision, give broad guidance to
his position coaches, and allow them to execute. In someone’s
personal life veterans can apply the concept of listening,
probably the most important component in marriage. Finally
in business, your company should have a clear set of defined
characteristics for team members.”
Extreme Ownership is a riveting, page-turning narrative
that not only details the combat leadership lessons learned
but also demonstrates how to apply these principles to any
area of life.
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