The Wisdom of the Bullfrog Ch 16

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Questions and Answers

What potential risk was associated with a Mike boat getting hung up on the steel beams?

The Mike boat capsizing in the surf (correct)

Damage to the steel beams, delaying future operations

Detonation of explosives prematurely.

The Mike boat drifting off course.

What was the primary role of Underwater Demolition Team Eleven during the exercise described?

To pilot Mike boats carrying Marines

To defend San Clemente Island from attack

To assess the effectiveness of plastic explosives in underwater environments

To clear obstacles for an amphibious beach landing (correct)

What tool was used by the frogmen to mark the location of obstacles underwater?

An underwater GPS system

A plastic slate, a grease pencil, and a lead line (correct)

A waterproof camera

A sonar device

Prior to the exercise, what type of planning was conducted by the frogmen?

Detailed planning to ensure they had plastic explosives, detonation cord, time fuses, blasting caps, and sufficient spares. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Navy and Marine exercise controllers placing scullies in the path of the amphibious assault force?

To create a more realistic training scenario Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of McRaven in Underwater Demolition Team Eleven?

To lead a small team of twenty-one frogmen Signup and view all the answers

What was a satchel charge used for in the exercise?

To destroy the concrete obstacles Signup and view all the answers

What did the team leader do back on the mother ship after the frogmen located the obstacles?

Planned the amount of explosives needed to destroy the obstacles listed on the chart Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what was the lesson learned about the amount of explosives to use when clearing beaches?

Always overload explosives to guarantee success in the face of uncertainty. Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate consequence McRaven faced after being fired from his East Coast SEAL Team?

He was relieved of command and reassigned to another Team. Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did McRaven employ to regain the respect of his fellow frogmen after his reassignment?

Working harder than anyone believed necessary to prove his commitment. Signup and view all the answers

What principle became McRaven's guiding mantra after his initial career setback?

When in doubt, overload Signup and view all the answers

As a vice admiral, what challenge did McRaven face when seeking approval for the mission to capture al Qaeda figures?

On-the-ground operations were off-limits in the country where the fighters were hiding. Signup and view all the answers

What immediate action did McRaven take to overcome the doubts of his superiors after a failed mission as vice admiral?

He increased his workload and involvement in tactical operations to demonstrate his commitment and competence. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate result of doubling your efforts after stumbling, according to the content?

It invariably exposes new opportunities to succeed. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Naval Officer Experiences and Leadership Lessons

Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) Experiences: A new ensign led a team of frogmen clearing concrete obstacles (scullies) in the path of amphibious assaults during a Navy exercise. Facing potential marine injury, the team meticulously planned, ensuring sufficient explosives and spares. Key takeaway: Always overload on explosives when unsure about the necessary amount.
Overloading as a Strategy: This strategy—overloading effort in the face of doubt—was key to success in UDT and SEAL deployments, including overcoming a career setback. The author believes that working harder than necessary empowers leaders to seize opportunities, even when faced with doubt.
SEAL Team Leadership: The author faced dismissal from SEAL team command and was later re-assigned and eventually recovered his reputation, highlighting the importance of doubling efforts after experiencing failure. Repeated instances of overloading showed its applicability across different deployments.
Leadership at a Higher Command Level: Despite a high-profile special operations command assignment, the author received scrutiny over unsuccessful operations and personal scrutiny. The author demonstrated how doubling efforts, when doubt arises, fostered both personal confidence and renewed opportunities for success.

Key Leadership Principles

Hard Work as a Foundation: The author emphasizes the importance of hard work as a fundamental imperative for leaders, motivating their teams and seizing new opportunities.
Overloading in Times of Doubt: Doubling efforts when facing difficulty/doubt is a consistent theme for the author. This principle applies to both career setbacks and larger deployments, guaranteeing success in uncertain situations.
Failure as a Learning Opportunity: Failure is inevitable for leaders; however, it should not be interpreted negatively. Rather, it should be viewed as a catalyst for renewed determination and increased effort. Hard work and a doubled effort will expose new opportunities for success.

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Description

Explore the leadership lessons learned from a naval officer's experiences in the Underwater Demolition Team and SEAL deployments. This quiz emphasizes the importance of overloading efforts and how perseverance can lead to recovery from setbacks. Test your knowledge on effective leadership in challenging environments.