Extreme Ownership

[onesteelshot]

I am reading Jocko Williniks book extreme ownership which had been very enlightening! Anyone else read this one?

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[AshWilliams]

Tell us why you like it and a brief synopsis of the book.

 

[Nosferatu]

Worst book report ever.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

The book Extreme Leadership...
:...teaches leadership lessons using examples of real-world missions and combat encounters..."

The above is taken from Wikipedia...so take that for what it is worth.

I haven't heard of the author before or read the book ...so I can't comment on the book.

Does make me think of writing a book...
I have some "real world missions and combat encounters " in my background...
Andy

 

[roseburger]

The book Extreme Leadership...
:...teaches leadership lessons using examples of real-world missions and combat encounters..."

The above is taken from Wikipedia...so take that for what it is worth.

I haven't heard of the author before or read the book ...so I can't comment on the book.

Does make me think of writing a book...
I have some "real world missions and combat encounters " in my background...
Andy

If nothing else, in sure you've got a lot of knowledge on old front stuffers.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

If nothing else, in sure you've got a lot of knowledge on old front stuffers.

I might know a little about that....
Andy

 

[AshWilliams]

I asked our A.I. Overlords.

"Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink (and Leif Babin) is a leadership book built around their experiences as U.S. Navy SEAL officers in Iraq, especially the Battle of Ramadi.

The core idea is "extreme ownership": leaders must take complete responsibility for everything in their world—no excuses, no blaming others. From that principle, they lay out practical laws of combat/leadership, like:

Cover and Move – work as a team and support each other

Simple – keep plans and communication clear

Prioritize and Execute – focus on the most important problem first

Decentralized Command – empower people at every level to make decisions


Each chapter starts with a combat story, then extracts a leadership principle, and finally shows how to apply it in business and everyday life—aimed at helping people build accountable, high-performing teams on and off the battlefield."

 

[ColeInOregon]

AI overlord on the author of "Extreme Ownership":

Jocko Willink has faced criticism from some former Navy SEALs who question his leadership decisions during combat operations, particularly regarding Task Unit Bruiser in the Iraq War. Critics argue that his actions may have led to unnecessary risks for fellow service members, sparking debate about his legacy and public persona.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Just tossing this out there to consider in regards to criticism....

Sgt. York also faced criticism in his day for his actions which earned him the Medal Of Honor.
Some of the men there that day felt slighted by the Army and historians , for their actions in that event.
( For the record I am a "fan" of Sgt. York )

In any event from my experiences and perspective.......

Combat is extremely intimate ...more so than lovemaking.
With love making you can have the promise of life....
With combat , you actually have both the promise of life and death.
No two people experience combat the same way...even if they are involved in the same engagement.

Also worth noting....
Combat perspective can change over time...at least it did for me.
How I felt immediately after a firefight or battle , versus days . weeks , months and now years afterwards....is vastly different.

Andy

 

[nwslopoke]

Does make me think of writing a book...
I have some "real world missions and combat encounters " in my background...
Andy

Do it. You might have to work on your Tactical beard and tattoos. All the tac bros have them.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Do it. You might have to work on your Tactical beard and tattoos. All the tac bros have them.

Ha....
So back when I was in the Army....
Tattoos were allowed , to a degree...but frowned upon.
Especially for those , like me , in LRRP / LRSD units....working behind enemy lines does tend to raise the possibility of being captured.
Having gone through S.E.R.E School....don't get caught is lesson one....another very important lesson is...
Anything can be used as intelligence or used against you...tattoos included.

As for the Tactical beard....

Greene's Rendezvous

• Andy54Hawken
• Sep 8, 2025

Mine is tactical....for the 1840's .....
Andy

 

[ScottInPDX]

Combat perspective can change over time...at least it did for me.
How I felt immediately after a firefight or battle , versus days . weeks , months and now years afterwards....is vastly different

I think this is an underappreciated point, even among veterans.

A lot of poignant works have been said and written about combat experiences and what it felt like to go through them. But it seems like there has been far less exploration, at least in popular culture, of how things look and feel long after the experience is behind us and how that view changes over time. It seems like representations of the reflection process is mostly limited, perhaps justifiably, to those with severe PTSD who never really recovered from the experience. But the memories are never far from your mind, even if you've successfully transitioned back to a stable civilian life.

My views on my experiences in Iraq have certainly matured since living through them.

 

[WillametteWill]

The core idea is "extreme ownership": leaders must take complete responsibility for everything in their world—no excuses, no blaming others. From that principle, they lay out practical laws of combat/leadership, like:

Cover and Move – work as a team and support each other

Simple – keep plans and communication clear

Prioritize and Execute – focus on the most important problem first

Decentralized Command – empower people at every level to make decisions

I haven't read the book, but believe my bride has (it's on one of our bookshelves). These four points pretty much sum up my career in law enforcement. The level he is discussing is obviously different, but the lessons likely work in many different areas, from business to combat.

 

[Nosferatu]

Ha....
So back when I was in the Army....
Tattoos were allowed , to a degree...but frowned upon.
Especially for those , like me , in LRRP / LRSD units....working behind enemy lines does tend to raise the possibility of being captured.
Having gone through S.E.R.E School....don't get caught is lesson one....another very important lesson is...
Anything can be used as intelligence or used against you...tattoos included.

As for the Tactical beard....

Greene's Rendezvous

• Andy54Hawken
• Sep 8, 2025

Mine is tactical....for the 1840's .....
Andy

A live-action Elmer J. Fudd and Carroll O'Connor love child!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

A live-action Elmer J. Fudd and Carroll O'Connor love child!

Don't hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning....
Andy

 

[narlesharley]

Tell us why you like it and a brief synopsis of the book.

I found it to be a great read for multiple reasons. The lessons in the book you don't have to take to an exact or EXTREME measure but there is a lot about accountability for yourself and how to hold others accountable. How to prioritize the most / least important tasks and eliminate emotions out of your decision making skills. Like anything, guns, women, etc. we all like different things but I also found this book to be enjoyable. Each chapter starts with a war story which takes your mindset to one place and then he breaks it down how ownership and decision making is important taking you to a different mindset which kept me engaged from front to back.

 

[spookshack]

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[roseburger]

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[spookshack]

Discuss…..

 

[Forester]

I am reading Jocko Williniks book extreme ownership which had been very enlightening! Anyone else read this one?

I listened to a great interview with the author on Jocko's podcast. It's on my list to get