CHAPTER 8

Decentralized Command

Jocko Willink

SOUTH-CENTRAL RAMADI, IRAQ: A RECKONING
“We’ve got armed enemy fighters on top of a building. Appear to be
snipers,” the radio blared. The concern and excitement in the American
Soldier’s voice relaying the information was evident.
This report was alarming and immediately struck a cord with
everyone on the radio net. Enemy snipers were deadly. While they could
never compare to the level of skill, training, and equipment that our own
U.S. military snipers possessed, the enemy certainly had some skilled
marksmen who inflicted substantial damage, regularly killing or
wounding American and Iraqi soldiers with accurate rifle shots.
Two different elements of our Task Unit Bruiser SEALs were out
there in enemy territory among a hostile insurgent force with friendly
U.S. Army troops moving into the area. My job was command and
control of thirty plus SEALs and their partner force of Iraqi soldiers, but
I could only manage this effectively through Decentralized Command. It
was the only way to operate.