10 Lessons from the Black Hawk Down
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| Michael Byers |
- Don't be predictable. Warlords in Mogadishu got acquainted with the MO of the US army, so they were waiting for them as soon as they knew they were coming.
- Don't underestimate your adversary. Both soldiers and leaders thought the Somalia guerrilla didn't have the training or the weapons to fight back.
- Be prepared for the job. Most soldiers decided to leave part of their gear in the base when they were called for the mission.
- Know the battlefield. Commanders and soldiers knew almost nothing about Mogadishu. Nobody had first hand knowledge of city streets.
- Assess the people. Commanders never brought to the equation the feelings of the inhabitants. They did not evaluate the hostility of the population.
- Have a plan B. No team was pre-assembled to intervene if things went awry. No plan was made if something went wrong.
- Never lose sight of your team. Once and again, techs were left behind the lines, and commanders and intelligence lost track of them.
- Always keep calm. Once and again reinforcements lacked knowledge of the situation, clear instructions, and material resources to do a proper job due to the lack of serenity and clear thinking of high command.
- Ask for help. Don't drown without screaming. Only when the number of casualties became unmanageable did the high command begin to seek assistance from the international force assembled in Somalia.
- Encourage your team members. Lower level leaders took the initiative in the face of the catastrophe and save countless lives of their buddies.
