--- title: "Watch Navy SEAL Jocko Willink break down combat scenes" description: "He's nothing if not a commanding presence. Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink doesn't hold back on his thoughts about famous combat scenes." date: "2022-10-13" modified: "2023-01-10" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/jocko-willink-combat/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Movies and TV" - "Special Operations" - "Tactical" --- # Watch Navy SEAL Jocko Willink break down combat scenes ![]() "If your reserve parachute doesn't work, the procedure is...basically you're gonna hand salute the world and you're gonna hit the dirt...because you're gonna die," said former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink without much to indicate whether he's cracking a joke or not. The retired Lieutenant Commander and recipient of the Silver Star and Bronze Star saw multiple combat deployments, including the Battle of Ramadi in Iraq. After his military career, he created a popular podcast, [*Jocko Podcast*](); co-founded Echelon Front, a premier leadership consulting company; and co-authored books like the #1 New York Times bestseller *Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.* He's nothing if not a commanding presence, which makes his commentary on combat scenes from movies all the more entertaining. [Jocko Willink]() doesn't hold back. --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L7o6HtX8Vg *Navy SEAL Jocko Willink Breaks Down Combat Scenes From Movies | GQ* Willink starts by breaking down the HALO (High Altitude Low Open) jump from *Navy SEALS.* He goes pretty deep into the mechanics of a HALO jump and mission logistics that are worth watching in the video above, but here's a highlight: "In all branches of the military, you rely on each other to make sure you're safe. The guy's checking the other person's pins on his rig to make sure they're going to deploy the parachute properly...and then he's messing with him, which is pretty normal, too. If you know someone's scared of parachuting, then he's gonna get messed with a little bit more. Never let anyone know you're scared of something. Just keep it to yourself," Willink shared — and again...if he's amused, *you'll never know.* The guy has a [straight-up poker face](). He goes on to describe what happens when a parachute malfunctions. ![jocko willink commentary]() "There's a bunch of things that can go wrong with a parachute. I had one malfunction in my career," Willink reflected. "What do you do when your parachute doesn't open? You follow procedures. We train really hard to know what the procedures are." He shared his own story of cutting away his main chute and pulling his reserve — which is also demonstrated in the *Navy SEALs* clip in the video above. Willink moved on to the amphibious operations of *Act of Valor*. "Just because you're on the SEAL Teams does not mean you're a sniper. Sniper is a specialized school that guys go to. And there's a bunch of different schools: you could be a communication expert, you could be a medic…" Willink illustrated. Willink had a few problems. "Let me pause it right here. It's just kind of … not realistic at all. I guess they're trying to make it look cool. It always surprises me a little bit because … it's the best job in the world. You don't really need to do anything to make it look cool. It *is* cool," he affirmed. From ghillie suits to breaching operations to catching a target before he hits the water, Willink has something to say — and it's not always a critique. He has a lot of knowledge and experience, so it's cool to hear him break down what's going on in the scene and why the operators are doing what they do. Check out the video above to see Willink's thoughts on additional films like *American Sniper,* *Zero Dark Thirty*, *Captain Phillips* and *Lone Survivor.* ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()