Key Takeaways
- Former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette publicly revealed his identity and discussed his upcoming book, 'No Easy Way.'
- His previous book, 'No Easy Day,' led to a 12-year legal battle and a government-imposed payment plan.
- Bissonnette criticizes perceived hypocrisy and self-promotion by military leadership and politicians after the Osama bin Laden raid.
- He detailed his rigorous DEVGRU training, operational experiences, and integration with Tier 1 Army units.
- The bin Laden raid's helicopter landing was complicated by a one-day mission delay due to a political event.
- Bissonnette highlighted the significant personal cost of his SEAL career, including divorce and limited family time.
- He recounts a new Department of Justice investigation regarding gear consulting, despite prior command approval.
- Bissonnette expresses frustration with the military's pre-publication review process, alleging intentional delays.
- He advocates for clear guidance for veterans sharing their stories, criticizing the 'quiet professionals' mantra.
Deep Dive
- Guest detailed a 12-year legal battle with the government after 'No Easy Day' publication, resulting in a 15-year payment plan of $3,800 monthly.
- Efforts to protect identity through legal channels and online personas were undermined when a Fox News producer inadvertently revealed his real name.
- The decision to write 'No Easy Day' was influenced by perceived self-promotion from leaders after the bin Laden raid, compelling him to tell the story accurately.
- Guest was accepted into DEVGRU training after screening, influenced by the unit's advanced assets and 'cool toys'.
- He barely passed the physical screening due to recent field operations; the selection training had a 50% washout rate, focusing on continuous learning rather than basic instruction.
- The challenging 'Green Team' training involved constant complex problems, requiring operators to prioritize and manage tasks without quitting.
- Guest's SEAL team was deployed to Iraq to augment an Army unit, with individuals like himself working alongside Delta Force, where he found counterparts 'phenomenal' with no rivalry.
- He noted similar core operator mindsets and tactics despite different selection pipelines, humorously stating DEVGRU primarily 'swims more'.
- Experienced nightly operations in Baghdad involving Little Bird helicopters for rooftop insertions, ground assaults, and his first combat engagement.
- Guest revealed he is divorced after nine years of marriage, having been home for less than one year, with both children born during deployments.
- He faced retention challenges within the SEAL teams due to constant deployments and lack of family time, noting only one net operator gain in his final year of service.
- A request for a less demanding role after 13 consecutive tours and a neck injury post-bin Laden mission was denied, contributing to his decision to leave the Navy.
- The Osama bin Laden mission was delayed one day to accommodate President Obama's attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, increasing the temperature by 8 degrees and affecting helicopter lift capacity.
- The precarious helicopter landing saw the aircraft tilt on a wall 40 feet above ground, requiring careful exit around still-turning main rotors.
- Guest found Vice President Biden's post-raid interaction 'awkward' and implied President Obama's invitation for a beer was never fulfilled, leading to sarcastic commentary.
- SEAL Team Six tactics evolved from hostage rescue clearance to combat clearance, favoring slower, more methodical approaches for increased safety despite internal resistance.
- Combat clearance tactics were learned from operational experience, citing a mission where rushing into a room resulted in casualties due to an enemy machine gun position.
- During the bin Laden raid, the objective was capture or kill; bin Laden was engaged by the point man because he exposed his head and was presumed armed, adhering to rules of engagement.
- Months after the Osama bin Laden raid in May 2011, the guest experienced what he described as 'extortion,' a significant factor in his decision to leave the Navy.
- He criticized changing military policies, such as prohibiting night missions and the use of dogs, believing they made operations more dangerous.
- Expressed disgust with public interviews given by Leon Panetta, Admiral William McCraven, and President Obama for self-promotion after the bin Laden raid, specifically criticizing McCraven's leadership.
- Facing legal threats, the guest initially relied on his first attorney, who advised the book contained no classified information and no prior review was mandated, but DOJ pressure escalated.
- Under increasing pressure from the Department of Justice, he hired a second attorney and attempted to cooperate by waiving attorney-client privilege.
- A former commanding officer responded to the guest's communication attempt about the escalating situation with 'delete me,' indicating a lack of support from Naval Special Warfare leadership.
- Guest paid back his 'No Easy Day' book royalties, incurring nearly $1.5 million in legal defense over three years, with no retirement or pension.
- He sued his attorney for bad advice, resulting in a settlement where the attorney admitted fault, but the government refused to reopen the original case despite this finding.
- Unable to pay the government's demand, he accepted a 15-year payment plan of $3,800 monthly to repay his malpractice settlement, a sum exceeding his career earnings; all personal career photos were deleted.