Mutually Supporting Elements
In combat, “mutually supporting elements” is a principle that ensures resilience through overlapping capabilities—not redundancy. It’s not just having friendly forces nearby; it’s ensuring their positions and actions bolster one another when pressure mounts.
Too often, veterans assume this principle doesn’t apply off the battlefield. But it does—especially in transition.
This past weekend, I experienced exactly that.
On Friday, the Navy SEAL Foundation hosted a couples appreciation night for those of us in Hawaii—a steak and lobster cruise most of us couldn’t afford on our own. It was a powerful reminder that our families also serve. They even included support techs—those who’ve stood beside us in our SEAL units—honoring their contribution.
On Saturday, the SEAL Future Foundation took it a step further with a full day at Wai Kai Water Park. It wasn’t a networking event. It wasn’t a seminar. It was straight-up fun for our families. I surfed the standing wave with my daughters (WAY different from regular surfing) and then my whole family belly-flopped our way through the floating obstacle course.
As the new Executive Director for Beyond the Brotherhood, I’m grateful that none of our organizations compete; we aren’t rivals. Each one exists to funnel resources from the American people to a specific corner of the SEAL community. At BTB, we focus on character-screened SEALs in transition. Others support all SEALs, active and retired, the families and even support personnel. Together, we’re stronger.
In the past, some teammates left the Teams just to save their marriage. Today, events like these give our wives and kids something back—and remind all of us that we’re not alone after the Teams.
If you’re transitioning, or even years out: Don’t isolate. Link up with as many veteran-serving orgs as you can. They don’t cancel each other out—they cover your six.
That’s what mutually supporting elements do.
