At a recent client event I did with Codey Gandy and Meg Miller, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People left motivated and ready to implement Extreme Ownership.
But one survey comment made me stop and think:
“Echelon Front meets all the criteria but one for a cult.”
At first, I chuckled. Then I thought, maybe that’s true. Maybe Echelon Front is a cult.
What Defines a Cult?
Most sociologists and psychologists point to a few consistent markers when defining a cult:
- Charismatic, Infallible Leader – One figure at the top whose authority cannot be questioned.
- Isolation from the Outside World – Members are encouraged to cut ties with outsiders or influences that challenge the group.
- Absolute Obedience – Followers do what they are told without space for independent thought or dissent.
- Exclusive Truth – The group claims to have the only real path to meaning, salvation, or success.
- Exploitation – Members are used emotionally, financially, or otherwise for the gain of the leaders.
Normally, these criteria raise red flags. But what if you reframe them through the lens of Extreme Ownership? Suddenly, they describe something not destructive, but life-changing.
1. The Infallible Leader
In cults, the leader is above reproach. At Echelon Front, our leaders Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, and the cadre of leadership instructors do the opposite. They share their mistakes openly. They admit failure. They model humility. If you are going to devote yourself to following someone, why not leaders who show you how to own your failures and get better?
2. Isolation from the Outside World
Cults cut you off from family, friends, and outside perspective. At EF, the “isolation” we create is from your old self. The one who made excuses, blamed others, and avoided responsibility. We do not want you disconnected from the world. We want you more engaged with it, stronger in it, leading in it.
3. Absolute Obedience
Cults demand blind loyalty. EF demands disciplined action. We do not say “obey us.” We say: lead yourself. We challenge you to take action, make decisions, and own the outcomes. That is not blind obedience; it is radical empowerment.
4. Exclusive Truth
Cults claim they alone have the answer. EF does not claim ownership of truth, but we do claim ownership of a truth: when you take extreme ownership, things get better. This is not dogma. It is a principle tested on the battlefield, in boardrooms, in families, and in life.
5. Exploitation
Cults use people for the leaders’ benefit. EF uses pressure and accountability to bring out the best in people. We “exploit” your potential. We will not let you settle for mediocrity. We demand more because we believe you are capable of more.
The Cult Worth Joining
So yes, by some definitions, Echelon Front might be a cult. But it is a cult of discipline, humility, accountability, and leadership. A cult that does not take away freedom but multiplies it.
In a world filled with destructive cults built on ego, lies, and control, this is one cult worth joining.
The question is not whether EF is a cult. The question is: why would you not want to be part of this one?
