Frogman Stories
Life and Leadership Lessons from the SEAL Teams
Rick Kaiser, Casemate, Philadelphia, 2023, 216 pages
Book Review published on: March 29, 2024
Frogman Stories: Life and Leadership Lessons from the SEAL Teams is a book about life in the SEAL Teams without the typical hyperbole. Author Rick Kaiser, a retired master chief, served in and around the SEAL Teams for forty-five years. As a former member of SEAL Teams 2 and 6, and as the CEO of the National Navy SEAL Museum, he relates life lessons learned over the course of a varied career in the naval special warfare community. Unlike many other books authored by SEALs, this book does not seek to glorify the author’s combat experiences but rather provides the reader a glimpse of life both in and outside the naval special warfare community.
The book is introduced with an overview of the SEAL ethos to acquaint the reader with the exceedingly high standards expected of our Nation’s naval special warfare communities. Most of all, Kaiser’s deep abiding commitment to our Nation and to the SEAL Teams is clearly articulated. This is a very effective method of communicating the SEAL mindset to those who understand the SEALs only through movies and scripted media releases. As he points out, very few members of society have ever known nor have had even casual contact with a SEAL. Kaiser strips away popular mythology and portrays SEALs as normal people, not superheroes, who have flaws and make mistakes just like everyone else. What distinguishes SEALs from the society they serve is the physically and mentally rigorous, highly specialized training as well as their exceptionally strong commitment to the mission, the team, and one another. Another important aspect of this book is Kaiser’s reflections on leadership philosophy within the SEAL Teams. Anchored in the SEAL ethos, Kaiser reminds the reader that all leaders are the product of both good and bad experiences. The scars should be continuously reflected upon and used to improve a leader’s leadership style. Kaiser also addresses the significance of mentorship in the development of a leader. He notes the impact of Master Chief Rudy Boesch and others on inspiring him and helping to assist in his development as a SEAL.
The book evolves as an anthology of seemingly unrelated SEAL Team experiences over the expanse of Kaiser’s career with every chapter focused on a specific lesson learned. The stories are informative, entertaining, at times sobering, and often relevant to life in general. Kaiser is a gifted storyteller whose effortless writing style comes across as engaging, genuine, and humble. There is no hint of self-aggrandizement in any of his writing. For example, his participation in the extraction of U.S. special operators in Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia as a member of SEAL Team 6 is unemotional, yet understated, even though he received a Silver Star for his actions.
In summary, this book is not intended to be a detailed historic analysis of SEAL Team operations. The value of this book comes from gaining a small understanding of the SEAL mentality as well as leadership guidelines from a senior, highly experienced, enlisted leader in the SEAL community. Most importantly, this book supplements the popular view of SEALs held by many members of the public. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing the SEALs beyond superficial sensationalized depictions.
Book Review written by: Cmdr. David W. Christie, U.S. Navy, Retired, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas