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

continued. It was a substantial firefight. Volleys of gunfire rattled back
and forth between the patrol and enemy fighters. More garbled
communications. I recognized the voice of the SEAL element leader
with the patrol but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Leif, on the
high ground with direct line of site to both of us, had good radio
communications both with the SEAL leader on the ground with the
patrol and with me. Leif received a situational update from the patrol. He
and the young SEAL element leader both communicated with a clear,
calm voice, despite the chaos of the situation, just like we had trained.
Leif relayed the report to me: two friendlies wounded, need CASEVAC
and fire support.
In order to quickly get tanks and CASEVAC vehicles out to help the
patrol, I needed to get direct radio communications with the SEAL
officer in the patrol and confirm their position. I quickly sprinted to the
top of the largest building on COP Falcon, stood up, and extended my
radio antenna for maximum reception.
I keyed up my radio to try and reach the patrol: “Redbull,^2 this is
Jocko.”
“Go Jocko,” responded the SEAL leader with the patrol in a calm
voice. We now had direct radio communications.
“What do you got?” I asked.
“Two wounded. Need CASEVAC. And fire support,” he responded.
Just as he had been taught: simple, clear, concise information—exactly
what was needed.
“Roger. Confirm your location,” I said.
“Building J51^3 ,” he replied.
“Are all your troops in J51?” I asked.
“Affirm. All friendly troops in J51,” he confirmed.