What I learned as a US Navy Frogman

What I learned as a US Navy Frogman (now called SEALS)

* Stick with your swim buddy, hell or high water. Dead or alive, don’t come back without him.

* Encourage an air of invincibility, also, be shrewd in the planning and the execution of a mission.

* Carefully prepare Plan Alpha, and always have a Plan Bravo, a back-up plan. (What if the boat or paddles are gone when you get back to the water’s edge with the microfilm? What’s the back-up plan? Swim out to the waiting sub? Go inland? Contact your buddy team?).

* Treat the men well; roll up your sleeves and join them sometimes during a challenging event. (Example: we have to move all the explosives manually within the next few hours. The whole team’s out there sweating – including the Platoon Commander.)

* Have fun on your missions, even outrageous. But don’t be careless or inadvertently harmful.

* Stay strong and flexible. Continue to swim when you’re not on an operation or a mission.

* There are a lot of brave people on your team. Honor them; but don’t indulge weaknesses.

* Praise a person publicly; correct him privately.

* Be pro-active. Freely come up with ideas and ways to improve the operations.

* The rules are guidelines. Be completely responsible for all your decisions and actions. Be ready for anything