Objective Summary

In the second section of Don Mann's Inside SEAL Team Six, Don stresses how important it is for the SEALs to stick together and work as a team. As the SEAL team encounters tough obstacles physically and mentally the only way to overcome the challenges is to work as a team. Don Mann informs the reader that these Navy SEALs get placed in some crazy situations. In the second section of the book Don tells some of his tales of the more dangerous missions where if one thing goes wrong their lives are all at risk. Don Emphasizes the importance of just being smart. These Navy SEALs can not risk any mistakes because of the importance and anger of their missions. Through all the craziness during their missions they train nonstop while not in combat. These men train as a team, live as a team, and fight as a team. Don implies that these men must be as close as brothers, because these are the men that will be guarding each others lives for as long as they are a Navy SEAL.

The Navy SEAL team from "Operation Red Wings" which the movie The Lone Survivor was based on.

Essential Question

Our groups essential question is, "Should the United States have gone into Iraq"? 

Some U.S. Army soldier in Iraq.

The United States should not have invaded Iraq, because public opinion did not support it. If the people of America do not think it is the right thing to do then the Army should take that into consideration. By invading Iraq it puts the United States, and all of its citizens in danger. The American people did not think it was a good idea; they were scared. The Army should be focussed on protecting the American people. If they put us in danger, they aren't doing their job.

Video of U.S. Army soldiers in combat in Iraq.

Objective Summary

In the first chapter of Don Mann's Inside SEAL Team Six, Don emphasizes the importance of hard work, loyalty, and camaraderie by telling some of his tales with his brothers on ST-6. Don Mann states that him and his team of Navy SEALs train harder than any other military combat team in the world, so when disaster strikes they are ready. Don Mann informs the readers that the most important thing in being a Navy SEAL isn't physical; it is their ability to work hard and always be there for their brothers. The SEALs dedicate their lives to the protection of the United States and their fellow SEALs. Mann stresses that Navy  SEALs are America's elite military force and they dedicate their whole lives to do what they do.

Mann, Don, and Ralph Pezzullo. Inside Seal Team Six: My Life and Missions with America's Elite Warriors. New York, NY: Little, Brown, 2011.

Survey

Surveymonkey

The most common answer for our survey was people answering that WWII was the most influential war. 

Discussion Question #3

Describe whether or not Robin's personality has changed since the beginning of the story.

Robin's Personality has changed a lot. He was a very simple kid. Throughout the story he has seen things unimaginable to a normal person his age. Robin's motive to join the military came from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was just a kid with a motive, to help his country. Now in the book Robin is comfortable with open combat, death, and terror. Robin didn't initially notice his personality change, "I hadn't thought much about being away since we started the march to Baghdad, only about what I was seeing around me, and staying alive" (120).

Robin is very occupied being in Iraq. He is constantly on the move. Not a moment goes by when Robin isn't having to worry for his life or his squads safety. This is a big move for him, he has never been in this kind of situation. Obviously his personality has changed, with all the new things he has experienced in Iraq. Robin is practically a different person, he has gone through massive changes from his start in the military.

Discussion Question #2

Explain whether or not Robin has become more adapted to the lifestyle in Iraq.

Robin has become much more comfortable about being in Iraq, especially the combat. At this point in the book Robin has been in combat for a few weeks. This has all been a huge change for Robin. He has now seen death, sorrow, gunfire, open combat, and a lot more that he would have never experienced if he had not joined the military.

Robin went from being an average kid, to being a member of the United States Army on active duty in Iraq. "... dying becomes so casual you don't even notice it sitting next to you" (125). When Robin saw his first death he was devastated. He had never seen anything like it. He keeps growing stronger and stronger, and the things that may have been hard on him before may not be so hard anymore. Death is just one struggle of being in combat, but Robin is learning to cope with it, and adapt to his new life in Iraq.

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