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.

Smore

Smore

Sunrise Over Fallujah Discussion Question

Discuss whether or not Robin wants to be in Iraq right now.

       

Robin may not seem like he wants to be in combat in Iraq right now but inside he feels like he should be there and that he wants to help. Robin is scared of the action he could be facing in Iraq, it is obvious he has his doubts about being there, but deep inside he wants to help the Iraqi people and support his country in any way he can. Robin does not quite know why he decided to join the military, he is scared, but he joined and is now adapting to the military life and trying to help the cause in any way he can. Robin did not know what to expect when he joined the military, he did not know what the combat would be like or if he would even be in combat, "I went to one knee and brought my piece up to my shoulder. The scope was full of dust and I fired looking over the barrel, panning across the road" (102). Robin had not fired his gun until this point in the book, but he takes responsibility and he likes having the power in his hands, having the ability to help his country. He had never even thought about having to fire his gun. Robin had his whole perspective changed as soon as he had to fire his gun. Robin went from an everyday kid to a soldier in Iraq having to use lethal combat and see things that he was not exposed to back home, he is growing and adapting to the life in Iraq. Robin truly wants to be there and he wants to help his country, and the people of Iraq.

Sunrise Over Fallujah

Sunrise Over Fallujah

Tuesday Write #12

Malcolm Gladwell has mastered the art of looking past what meets the eye and gaining a deeper understanding for his subject. In all the TED Talks we watched in class Malcolm Gladwell took something relatively normal, and went in depth and related it to things completely out of the norm. 

Malcolm Gladwell's "David and Goliath" TED Talk

Malcolm Gladwell goes deeper than the surface to find endless possibilities, explanations, and connections to whatever he is researching. In Malcolm's talk about spaghetti sauce rather than just explaining his story about spaghetti sauce he went on to show the importance of what happened and connect it to everyday life. In his talk about the Norden Bombsight he didn't just explain why it was important, he saw what would have been overlooked by anyone else. 

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell has written multiple books about human life and error. He also has a website that talks about him and all his works.