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

dared not try to argue the point with the instructor. With no choice, he
accepted the challenging assignment with a look of determination.
Boat Crew VI’s leader was obviously elated. It was clear he felt that
only by the luck of the draw—and no fault of his own—had he been
assigned to the worst boat crew of underperformers. In his mind, no
amount of effort on his part could make Boat Crew VI better. Now, the
SEAL instructor directed him to take over Boat Crew II. His face
revealed his inner conviction that justice was finally being done and his
new assignment meant things would now be easy for him.
Having received the direction to swap places, each boat crew leader
went to his new position in the opposite boat crew and stood by for the
next race. As before, boat crew leaders were given instructions, and they
in turn briefed their teams.
“Stand by ... bust ’em!” came the command. And they were off.
We watched the boat crews sprint over the berm carrying their boats,
then hurry down to the surf zone and into the dark water. They jumped
into their boats and paddled furiously. Passing through the crashing
waves, they dumped boat, got everyone back on board, and then paddled
down the beach. The headlights from our instructors’ vehicles caught the
reflection of the yellow bands painted around the boats’ rims. We could
no longer see the boat numbers. However, two boats were ahead of the
pack, almost neck and neck, with one vying for the lead. A half mile
down the beach, as the instructors’ trucks followed, the boat crews
paddled back into shore. As the boats came in on the headlights, the
numbers were clearly visible. Boat Crew VI was in the lead and
maintained first place all the way across the finish line, just ahead of
Boat Crew II. Boat Crew VI had won the race.
A miraculous turnaround had taken place: Boat Crew VI had gone