Jocko Willink
John G Willink | |
|---|---|
| File:LCDR Jocko Willink SEAL.jpg | |
| Birth name | John G Willink |
| Nickname(s) | Jocko |
| Born | September 8, 1971 |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1990–2010 |
| Rank | LCDR |
| Unit | United States Navy SEALs |
| Battles / wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Silver Star Medal Bronze Star Medal with Combat V |
John Gretton "Jocko" Willink (born September 8, 1971)[1] is an American podcaster, author, and retired United States Navy SEAL. He received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his service in the Iraq War.[2] Willink was commander of SEAL Team Three's Task Unit Bruiser during the Battle of Ramadi. Together with fellow former SEAL Leif Babin, Willink wrote the book Extreme Ownership and founded the consulting firm Echelon Front. Willink hosts a weekly podcast with friend and Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner Echo Charles, called Jocko Podcast.
Early life
Willink was born and raised in New England. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1990.
Military career
After Navy recruit training and Personnelman (PN) "A" School training, he then reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) training at Coronado, California. Willink served eight years on active duty, as an enlisted Navy SEAL with SEAL Team ONE and SEAL Team TWO. Willink was part of the SEAL team that seized Russian Tanker Volga-Neft-147 in the Gulf of Oman which was carrying Iraqi oil in violation of a U.N. economic embargo. Willink earned his commission via Officer Candidate School and eventually served as a platoon commander. Willink completed multiple deployments to Asia, Middle East and Europe. During Operation Iraqi Freedom he deployed to the Iraqi town of Ramadi in 2006 with SEAL Team THREE as commander of Task Unit Bruiser, which included Leif Babin, Ryan Job,Andrew Paul,Tony Efrati, Marc Alan Lee, Michael Monsoor, Jonny Kim,Seth Stone, Kevin Lacz, and Chris Kyle. Willink also served as a Navy SEAL instructor during his career. He retired in October 2010 after 20 years of service.[3]
Awards and decorations
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Post-Navy career
Willink is an avid Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and received his black belt from Dean Lister.
Along with Leif Babin, Willink formed the company Echelon Front, which offers "practical, experience-based solutions to complex problems based on our own lessons learned through a myriad of dynamic leadership challenges."[4] Based on their careers in the United States Navy, he and Babin co-authored the leadership manual Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win.[5] After appearing on the podcasts of Tim Ferriss, Joe Rogan and Sam Harris to publicize his book, Willink started his own weekly podcast, The Jocko Podcast,[6] with Echo Charles on December 22, 2015 covering topics from war, leadership, jiu-jitsu, exercise, and lessons learned as a Navy SEAL.
Willink currently resides in San Diego, California.
Bibliography
- Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win (2015)
- Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual (2017)
- The Way of the Warrior Kid (2017)
- The Way of the Warrior Kid: The New Recruit (2018)
References
- ^ Willink, John "Jocko". "Birthdate". John Gretton Willink Genealogjdjrurj page. Tjeenk Willink. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ "Extreme Ownership". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
- ^ "These former Navy SEALS explain why you should wake up before dawn to win at life". maxim.com. Maxim. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- ^ "Echelon Front". Echelon Front. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^ "Why this retired Navy SEAL commander has 3 alarm clocks and wakes up at 4:30 a.m." Business Insider. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
- ^ Schawbel, Dan. "Jocko Willink: Career Advice From a Former Navy SEAL". forbes.com. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
