Blake Hall

So maybe the arc in terms of performance, if you can codify learning and feedback loops, the average success rate for these kill capture missions was like 44%, I think, give or take. And in the first three months, we were in the 20th percentiles, which is to say that we sucked. But around month three, we hit average.

So maybe the arc in terms of performance, if you can codify learning and feedback loops, the average success rate for these kill capture missions was like 44%, I think, give or take. And in the first three months, we were in the 20th percentiles, which is to say that we sucked. But around month three, we hit average.

And then we caught the head of the Mujahideen Shura Council for Mosul, which is this clearinghouse of nationalist and extremist Islamist groups. And we caught the spiritual leader of northern Iraq for Al-Qaeda. So we were designated the kill capture force of choice for northern Iraq. by Colonel Townsend, who went on to become a four-star general. But by the end, our success rate was over 90%.

And then we caught the head of the Mujahideen Shura Council for Mosul, which is this clearinghouse of nationalist and extremist Islamist groups. And we caught the spiritual leader of northern Iraq for Al-Qaeda. So we were designated the kill capture force of choice for northern Iraq. by Colonel Townsend, who went on to become a four-star general. But by the end, our success rate was over 90%.

And I think by some metrics was like leading the theater in terms of our efficiency. So there was a lot. That was my first real job. I had a lawn mowing business and like life gardening, but that was my first real job.

And I think by some metrics was like leading the theater in terms of our efficiency. So there was a lot. That was my first real job. I had a lawn mowing business and like life gardening, but that was my first real job.

I was relentless in preparation. I had an amazing team where there was a lot of prior selection that had gone into it. So in recon, you get to pick whoever you want. So I had already screened my team for certain skills to make sure that I had a good group around me

I was relentless in preparation. I had an amazing team where there was a lot of prior selection that had gone into it. So in recon, you get to pick whoever you want. So I had already screened my team for certain skills to make sure that I had a good group around me

But the platoon leader is responsible for the maneuver and for getting the folks to the right place at the right time and orienting them to target. So I spent basically all of my free time studying these terrorist cells, their pattern, what was called pattern of life, where they would be on a Tuesday for lunch, what their tendencies were. And it's just like anything else.

But the platoon leader is responsible for the maneuver and for getting the folks to the right place at the right time and orienting them to target. So I spent basically all of my free time studying these terrorist cells, their pattern, what was called pattern of life, where they would be on a Tuesday for lunch, what their tendencies were. And it's just like anything else.

Humans get lazy and they get complacent. And if you're willing to put in the time, you could really get a feel for how this person is. operated and where they were likely to make a mistake. It was that. And then just, I think the biggest difference between mediocre leaders and great leaders is great leaders plan for contingencies.

Humans get lazy and they get complacent. And if you're willing to put in the time, you could really get a feel for how this person is. operated and where they were likely to make a mistake. It was that. And then just, I think the biggest difference between mediocre leaders and great leaders is great leaders plan for contingencies.

So before we even went on a mission, we would plan for all the things that might happen. So when it did happen, we knew what to do. I think relentless preparation and learning is is just so important because it both inoculates you against risk proactively.

So before we even went on a mission, we would plan for all the things that might happen. So when it did happen, we knew what to do. I think relentless preparation and learning is is just so important because it both inoculates you against risk proactively.

But then if you do find yourself in a position where everyone's like you're in fight or flight, the adrenaline's going, it's really difficult to communicate and tell everyone exactly what you want to do. The more that you've rehearsed that and prepared for it, the better you're going to be able to execute when it counts. And the military really drilled that into me.

But then if you do find yourself in a position where everyone's like you're in fight or flight, the adrenaline's going, it's really difficult to communicate and tell everyone exactly what you want to do. The more that you've rehearsed that and prepared for it, the better you're going to be able to execute when it counts. And the military really drilled that into me.

And I've carried that particular lesson with me throughout my life.

And I've carried that particular lesson with me throughout my life.

You have to be credible. That's the most important thing. You have to be credible. You have to care. So when I went through ranger school, there was a moment, you go through three phases, bending phase, mountain phase, Florida phase. I had this just miserable experience in mountain phase. It was wintertime, so it was freezing freezing.

You have to be credible. That's the most important thing. You have to be credible. You have to care. So when I went through ranger school, there was a moment, you go through three phases, bending phase, mountain phase, Florida phase. I had this just miserable experience in mountain phase. It was wintertime, so it was freezing freezing.