...the daily morning muster began beneath a sign that said, 'Are you ready for war today? You should be.' SEALs hadn't fired a shot in anger for years. But nobody ever admitted that around civilians, even to their closest non-SEAL friends.

The troop commander's name was Rich...[and] he was one of the best leaders I've ever known. His motto, which I've stolen from him, is, 'Nobody ever worked for me. They worked with me.