Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

destruction. We continued our patrol down the dusty, trash-covered
streets, weapons bristling in all directions. Our patrol snaked through
alleyways, avoiding the rare operating streetlamp (most had been shot
out or didn’t have electrical power), and maneuvered the best we could
around packs of mangy street dogs whose barking could give away our
position. We planned to utilize a two-story house as our OP2 overwatch
position and thought it would provide a clear view to cover the cordon
and search teams’ southern flank.
After a twenty-minute patrol without incident we arrived at the
location. Just outside the walled compound, the entire element took up
security positions around the gate. With weapons covering, we boosted a
couple of our Iraqi soldiers over the wall. They quickly unbolted the gate
from the inside and then let the rest of us in. SEAL shooters and Iraqi
soldiers swiftly but quietly flowed into the compound and moved toward
the house’s front door. Iraqi soldiers knocked and instructed the family
inside to open up. A bewildered Iraqi man answered the door and
complied. SEALs quickly cleared the compound, checking each room, a
second-story balcony, the rooftop, and the interior courtyard for threats.
Once clear, we set security positions.
The house provided a decent view in one direction along the main
road. In the other direction, however, it offered little vantage point
except from an exposed balcony. It was also difficult to place key
security positions without exposing personnel to attack from surrounding
buildings. Our OP2 snipers brought these significant concerns to me and
our platoon’s leading petty officer (LPO)—one of my most trusted
leaders. We were in a bind.
“We could take the building next door and maintain a security
contingent there,” the LPO offered. It was a great idea, and we decided to