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

academic material we were given, prepare our room and my uniforms for
an inspection, or just stretch out aching muscles, I had to make that time
because it did not exist on the written schedule. When I checked into my
first SEAL Team, that practice continued. If I wanted extra time to work
on my gear, clean my weapons, study tactics or new technology, I needed
to make that time. The only way you could make time, was to get up
early. That took discipline.
Waking up early was the first example I noticed in the SEAL Teams
in which discipline was really the difference between being good and
being exceptional. I saw it with some of the older, experienced SEALs.
Those who were at work before everyone else were the ones who were
considered the best “operators.” That meant they had the best field craft,
the most squared away gear, they were the best shots, and they were the
most respected. It all tied into discipline. By discipline, I mean an
intrinsic self-discipline—a matter of personal will. The best SEALs I
worked with were invariably the most disciplined. They woke up early.
They worked out every day. They studied tactics and technology. They
practiced their craft. Some of them even went out on the town, drank,
and stayed out until the early hours of the morning. But they still woke
up early and maintained discipline at every level.
When SEALs launch combat operations, discipline is paramount.
SEAL operators might have to carry loads of fifty to a hundred pounds of
gear. Temperatures can be either extremely hot or freezing cold. When
on a patrol and it comes time to rest, SEAL operators can’t just flop
down and take a load off. They must move tactically—slowly and
quietly. When they want to eat or drink, they can’t just drop everything
and dig into their gear. Instead, SEAL operators have to wait until they
are in a secure position. Though they might be exhausted from lack of