503: Delta Force, Mogadishu, and the Legacy of Black Hawk Down. With Norm "Hoot" Hooten.

Norm Hooten shares his journey from a tough upbringing in West Texas to a distinguished career in the Special Forces, where his childhood experiences found unexpected relevance.

Hooten's Violent Texas Upbringing With a Criminal Father

Hooten's Early Life: Poverty, Family Troubles, and Exposure to Violence and Lawlessness

Hooten's childhood was characterized by poverty and family troubles, including a father who was regularly involved in criminal activities such as bootleg whiskey production, barroom brawling, and even a charge of homicide when Hooten was about ten years old. Despite this violent and lawless environment, which included exposure to serious conflicts where people were knifed and shot, he learned to be self-sufficient and adventurous. These traits, along with his experience handling a rifle at a young age and growing up around violence that didn't scare him, inadvertently equipped him with skills that served him well in the military.

Hooten's father had a history of being in and out of jail, and as a child, Norm often felt like he was an inmate when going to school, a place he detested. His family's criminal background influenced the unconventional and often dangerous environment in which he was raised, leading him to witness violence and lawlessness from a young age.

Hooten Joined the Army After High School, a Life Turning Point

Despite the challenges of his upbringing, Hooten joined the Army straight out of high school. His entry into the military was not born from a well-informed choice but rather a desire to be involved with guns and action, shaped by an attraction to the imagery associated with the Special Forces. As he enlisted, Hooten found structure and comradeship among individuals from diverse parts of the Army, a mix that represented a significant positive shift from his past life.

Hooten reflects that if he had not joined the Army, where he found mentors like Richard Stickel and Armstrong, he might have ended up back at the ranch in Texas or potentially in prison. His time in the military became a safe space and gave his life a new direction, so much so that he contemplated a lifelong military career.

Hooten Excelled In the Army, Earning a Special Forces Spot On an Elite Team

Hooten's Skills and Adaptation Helped Him Thrive In Special Forces Selection

Upon joining the Army, Hooten found the initial training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to be less challenging than his difficult upbringing. His ch ...

Norm Hooten reflects on his extensive tenure in the Special Forces, sharing the transformative lessons on adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork that were ingrained through rigorous training, complex missions, and an evolving landscape of warfare.

Hooten's Special Forces Tenure Involved Training Foreign Forces and Conducting Sensitive Missions

Hooten Learned Adaptability, Problem-Solving, and Thriving In High-Pressure Environments

During his 18 months in Saudi Arabia on projects Roof Shingle and later Royal Oak, Hooten and his team provided a simplified Special Forces course to Saudi Arabians. With other government agencies' personnel embedded alongside them, it indicated a collaborative approach toward sensitive and classified operations. He also found himself continuously evaluated, even after leaving the training unit for an active team. His solo mission to Beirut at a young age simmered a necessity to adapt and thrive independently. Moreover, the mission to capture Manuel Antonio Noriega and conducting searches across 33 buildings showcased the massive scope and complexity of the missions he was involved in.

Hooten Witnessed the Evolving Warfare and the Need for Special Operations Forces to Adapt Tactics, Techniques, and Equipment

Hooten's Unit Acknowledged Gear and Vehicle Limitations, Seeking New Technologies and Capabilities

Learning from the British SAS on changing warfare environments and adopting new tactics became core insights for Hooten. His unit, seeking to remain relevant, pursued innovations in gear and weaponry, such as the "Panther" vehicle for better protection. In his diverse missions, ranging from orchestrating a motorcade manipulation to conducting live fire training, Hooten highlighted the importance of trial and error and equipment awareness.

Special Forces Taught Hooten the Value of Strong Relationships and Teamwork

Hooten's ...

1993 Battle of Mogadishu Exposed Hooten's Unit's Tactical and Equipment Vulnerabilities

During the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Norm Hooten's unit faced chaotic situations characterized by poor intelligence, communication issues, and unexpected heavy enemy resistance. As Hooten describes, their operation quickly shifted from being unlikely to springing into action upon confirmation of intelligence. He recalls seeing tire fires, interpreted as enemy signals, and realizing that their movement was likely compromised by embedded informants within UN troops. Tactical missteps included difficulties in securing the crash site perimeter, indicating a lack of foresight and positioning readiness.

He also mentions equipment vulnerabilities, such as the use of a wheeled armor personnel carrier with a gun and the need to armor Humvees with sandbags due to a lack of up-armored vehicles. A significant mistake Hooten acknowledges is not being adequately prepared with necessary equipment, like night vision goggles, which became essential in suddenly dark environments. This lack of preparation was evident during debrief sessions following the battle, where issues like vehicle problems at crash sites were discussed. Hooten recalls forgetting advice about using varying Landing Zones, which might have contributed to the chaos of the situation.

Mogadishu Battle Losses and Lessons Prompted Changes in Hooten's Unit and Special Ops Community

The losses and the intense challenges faced during the Battle of Mogadishu led to tangible changes within Hooten's unit and the broader Special Ops community. The battle's aftermath focused on revising training, tactics, and equipment for urban combat scenarios. Hooten himself reflects upon the necessity of these changes, especially stressing the importance of armored vehicles, communications, and close-quarters combat readiness.

The events in Somalia led to a shared understanding across various Special Forces, including SEALs, about the importance of armoring and equipping themselves better for urban warfare. This collaboration and sharing of lessons significantly contributed to later successes in the global war on terror. Additionally, the silver lining Hooten identifies in the battle's fallout is the realization that robust armored support was critical, which ran counter to the initial resistance within the unit that armored vehicles were not considered "commando stuff."

Lessons regarding the necessity of carrying proper equipment at all times, preparing for poor visibility conditions, and dealing with high casualties emerged prominently. The importance of reliable and secure communication lines came to the forefront, as Hooten highlights from his early days in Special Forces. They observed the need to adapt their equipment to the environment and the enemy's profile. Template plans for different scenarios like a motorcade or multi-structure operations were developed to ensure readiness for dynamic situations.

Battle of Mogadishu Aftermath Impacted Hooten, Familie ...

Norm Hooten’s transition from military service to pharmacy is driven by a desire to address veterans' substance abuse issues while honoring service members through entrepreneurial ventures.

Post-Military, Hooten Pursues Pharmacy Career to Make a Difference

Hooten's Special Forces Background Enriched His Healthcare Insights and Perspectives

After his time at the VA handling substance abuse among veterans, Hooten recognized the severity of the problem and chose to dive deeper into the field, seeking to understand and address the underlying issues. Assisting his wife with her pharmacy studies sparked his interest in medications, and despite initially laughing off the idea of attending pharmacy school due to a lack of confidence in his academic abilities, he ultimately took the plunge. Hooten completed prerequisite courses at night school on the Fort Bragg campus, took the PCAT, and was accepted into Campbell University’s pharmacy school. The decision to shift careers was motivated by a desire to spend more time with his family and his exposure to drug abuse in the military community.

Hooten on Substance Abuse in Veterans With Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions

Hooten's Insights Into Military Challenges Shaped His Holistic, Interdisciplinary Substance Abuse Approach

Hooten's military background provided not only expertise beneficial for Air Marshal training post-9/11 but also valuable insights into substance abuse issues that afflict veterans. His recognition of a pattern among veterans who presented in clinics with comorbid conditions like PTSD, substance use, and pain, culminated in the founding of an interdisciplinary clinic. This clinic, staffed by a variety of healthcare professionals, was a response to the unique needs of veterans suffering from co-occurring conditions and has become indicative of Hooten’s holistic approach to substance abuse problems. This interdisciplinary approach was born out of Hooten's recognition of the complexities of the veterans' struggles and his acknowledgement that these issues were too substantial for one person to handle alone.

Hooten's Efforts Highlight Need for Innovative Addiction Solutions

Hooten's Whiskey and Cigar Business Honors the Military and Explores Entrepreneurship

After departing from the VA, Hooten embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and founded a whiskey and cigar business. Tying in w ...