#162 Leif Babin - What Leadership Looks Like in the World’s Deadliest Warzones

Leif Babin, a naval officer and SEAL, has shared detailed accounts of his path to becoming a SEAL and his deployments in Ramadi, Iraq. His experiences during training and combat reveal the rigorous journey and adversity faced by SEAL team members, as well as the leadership challenges inherent in such operations.

Leif Babin's Path To Becoming a Seal

Leif Babin’s journey to becoming a Navy SEAL was marked by determination and perseverance. Raised in Woodville, Texas, with a strong sense of community and support, Babin had military aspirations from a young age, influenced by his family's legacy and personal desire to serve as a ground combat leader. After initial setbacks in being selected for SEAL training from the Naval Academy due to a low GPA and a conduct record, Babin did not give up. Showing true resolve, Babin completed BUD/S training after gaining practical leadership and responsibility experience on two different naval ships and receiving support through strong letters of recommendation.

Texas-Bred Aspiring Seal

Babin grew up outdoors, idealizing Native American warriors and honing his combat play. With a father serving in the army and air force, Babin's upbringing was immersed in outdoor activities and good values. This upbringing played a vital role in his eventual pursuit of a career in the military, specifically as a SEAL.

Naval Academy Graduate Completes Bud/s After Seal Training Rejection

Undeterred by an initial rejection from the SEAL program after the Naval Academy, Babin harnessed the opportunity to demonstrate his leadership and surface warfare capabilities. He later completed BUD/S training, overcoming physical challenges and embodying the principle of extreme ownership that he would later champion. He was not only selected for SEAL training during a crucial time of war but also successfully navigated the highly competitive program, eventually training with SEAL Team Five before being deployed.

Seal Teams 3 and 5 Deployed To Ramadi, Iraq

After rigorous training and showing tenacity at every turn, Leif Babin served with SEAL Team Five and later rotated to SEAL Team Three, where he was assigned as Charlie platoon commander. During this time, he witnessed the challenges faced by forces in Iraq first-hand and received a stark lesson in the stakes of war.

Leif's Experiences in Urban Combat Challenges

The streets of Ramadi, Iraq, were unforgiving and treacherous, with insurgents causing high U.S. casualties. Babin's SEAL Team, known as Task Unit Bruiser, provided essential support to Army and Marine units, carrying out high-risk missions like sniper operations and building clearances.

Insurgent-Controlled Ramadi Caused High Us Casualties

Al-Qaeda's stronghold in Ramadi made it a hotbed for violence and hostilities. Babin's deployment to Ramadi was met with nearly daily attacks and incessant bloodshed. Task Unit Bruiser bravely conducted operations in a city where militants had claimed vast territories and filled Route Michigan—a critical roadway—with IEDs

Leif's Seal Team, Task Unit Bruiser, Supported Army and Marine Units With High-Risk Missions, Including Sniper Operations and Building Clearances

Task Unit Bruiser's remarkable contributions included conducting dangerous sniper oversight, clearing buildings, and establishing combat outposts. They provided overwatch during sizeable joint efforts, involving thousands of soldiers and crucial military assets. Snipers from Babin's unit had a significant impact on disrupting enemy activities. Despite blue-on-blue incidents, Babin's team, often working with Iraqi soldiers, remained det ...

Leif Babin offers valuable insights into the principles that define effective leadership within the SEAL teams, emphasizing the importance of humility, ownership, and prioritizing the team and mission above personal motives.

Importance of Humility, Ownership, and Putting Team/Mission First

Leif Stresses Key Leadership Qualities: Humility, Extreme Ownership, and Prioritizing Team and Mission Over Ego

Leif Babin stresses that key leadership qualities such as humility, extreme ownership, and the prioritization of the team and mission are fundamental in creating highly effective SEAL units. He notes that these units excel because they are able to set aside their egos and personal agendas to unite under a common goal.

Leaders Must Admit Mistakes, Learn, and Empower Teams to Lead

Babin underscores the importance of admitting errors and learning from them as pivotal actions that empower leaders and their teams. Embracing the toughest parts of training and the willingness to lead by example are also vital components of effective leadership. He expresses the necessity for leaders to take full ownership of their actions, align their efforts with strategic goals, and commit fully to their responsibilities.

Babin expands upon the concept of humility, stating that humble leaders who admit their mistakes and learn from them create an environment of trust and improvement within their teams. Additionally, leaders showing humility and willingness to learn are respected among enlisted SEALs. Humility is also tied to the effectiveness of servant leadership, which places the team and mission interests ahead of the individual leader's.

Decentralized Command and the "Silent Leader" Approach

Leif Explains Jocko Willink, His Commander, Embodied "Silent Leadership" By Guiding While Allowing His Team to Lead

Leif Babin sheds light on the philosophy of "silent leadership" as embodied by his commander, Jocko Willink, who set the team's goals and then allowed his team members to devise their own methods for achieving them. Willink led Task Unit Bruiser by instilling a culture where criticism was constructive and self-improvement was primary, showing trust in his team's capabilities by letting them make decisions and carry them out.

Decentralized Command Empowers Junior Leaders in Urban Combat

The principle of decentralized command is exemplified in the way SEAL teams operate, especially in the dynamic environment of urban combat. Here, junior leaders are empowered to make on-the-ground decisions, enabling greater agility and responsiveness in the face of real-time challenges. Babin references how even newer SEAL team members were given the opportunity to innovate and contribute t ...

Leif Babin, a former Navy SEAL, discusses the challenging shift from military service to civilian life, his successful launch of Echelon Front, and the striking impact the leadership consultancy has had on numerous organizations and individuals.

Leif's Struggle Leaving Seal Teams and Finding Purpose

Babin delves into his post-deployment period, the difficulty of finding meaning after his career as a SEAL, and the feelings of depression and anxiety associated with figuring out what comes next. He describes transitioning to civilian life as "hard" and talks about his struggle to find purpose following the loss of teammates and dealing with personal injuries.

Struggling For Meaning After Losing Teammates

After returning from deployment, Babin struggled to find meaning, particularly after losing teammates. He speaks on the impact these losses had on him, indicating a battle with the reality of leaving a tight-knit community and the need to rediscover a sense of direction and purpose.

Considered Law School but Pursued Leadership Consulting

Contemplating his career options post-military and seeking meaningful work, Babin considered law school and was accepted to Fordham Law School. However, after realizing he had little in common with his classmates and lacked interest in studying law for three years, he deferred law school. Babin also received job offers in finance but found the work unfulfilling.

Launching Echelon Front With Jocko Willink

Babin and Jocko Willink, another former SEAL, joined forces to establish Echelon Front, after recognizing the wide applicability of the leadership principles they learned in service. Babin had previously taken over a military leadership course and, during a conversation with his wife, realized that teaching leadership was his passion.

Leif and Jocko Saw Seal Team Leadership Principles' Applicability

While considering their future paths, Babin and Willink understood that SEAL team strategies, such as "cover and move," have essential applications in business as well as other sectors. Babin recalls an epiphany during a corporate presentation, recognizing the universality of military leadership skills. The concept for Echelon Front emerged as Willink subtly planted the seeds for this idea about a year and a half before they actually decided to start the business.

Echelon Front Teaches Principles to Companies, Organizations, and Individuals

Echelon Front embodies the belief that leadership is a learnable skill, not merely an inborn trait. The consultancy teaches leadership principles Babin and Willink introduced in their book "Extreme Ownership," revealing the relevance and necessity of these princip ...