Rules of Engagement

***Rules of Engagement*** is the 15th episode of the third season of *SEAL Team* and the 59th episode of the series overall.

## Summary

While Bravo Team is on a special reconnaissance mission abroad, they are diverted to protect a group of American engineers and the dam they are constructing from a terrorist attack. The rules of engagement raise the level of danger, as the team is not permitted to use their weapons unless the enemy fires first.

## Recap

Upon exiting a sports bar, Jason and Natalie are playfully disagreeing about sports mascots. They are interrupted by a mini-car crash and both drivers get out to blame each other. This notably jarring to Jason, though he insisted its nothing. Later that night, Jason is woken up by his night terrors, and in a cold sweat gets up to pace his apartment. Natalie tries to call him back to bed, but he wants to shake it off.

Clay and Rebecca were in Washington D.C. together, and noticed during their date night one of the secretaries for the ambassador of some of the men that would be visiting him tomorrow at base along with the rest of Bravo Team. Rebecca suggested they go have a quick talk with him, to improve his standing with the rest of his political aspirations. He stopped when he noticed the news cast anchor was talking about Ambassador Nicole Marsden and was annoyed to see other politicians were attempting to smear her good name as part of a cop-out for their lack of experts in dealing with The Middle East. Spencer is further annoyed when he saw it Sonny walk in accompanied by Trent and Full Metal Spencer decided to bite the bullet and walks over to Sonny. He asked why they drove so far out of their way to this particular bar and Sonny began taking jabs to which Clay ignored. Full Metal mentions a man is pretending to be a Navy SEAL, and both he and Trent immediately follow Sonny where he makes an example of him. It was clear Trent, at least, had come along in an attempt to keep order. Sonny was quick to embarrass the man, pretending to be a SEAL, but soon got physical with him and shoved him into another group of patriots. The other three dragged him out of the bar.

The next day Bravo Team runs through a hostage simulation against multiple threats to secure the target. Captain Lindell and Blackburn explained the situation to *Senator Walters* who was rather impressed, but not overly excited. Seeing his opportunity Clay suggests they run through the simulation again this time with Senator Walters as the hostage to get a better hands-on understanding of what they do. And now, better educated in how to sweet talk politicians, suggest a photo op, provided none of their faces were visible. His suggestion worked and was welcomed by the politician. Though Jason who stayed silent, appeared unimpressed.

Ray was at home preparing for his family's move when he saw *Ambassador Nicole Marsden* name and face come across the news, as she was under investigation. Ray remarked how it wasn't fair to go after a dead woman who gave her life for the country. This caught the attention of his daughter, Jameelah who asked how he was involved, Ray admitted his job could be dangerous. Jameela began putting into place what kind of career father had chosen. He skated around the question, and promised her he was safe.

Jason begrudgingly went to therapy, though was incredibly hostile with his therapist *Dr. Conners*. insisting once again he was fine until is nothing the matter, though *Dr. Conners* question him why he even bothered showing up to their session in the first place. It's clear Jason is emotionally and mentally going through something but he refuses to open up. Not even to the therapist or Natalie who would be best equipped to understand, as part of her job is understanding the psychology of SEALS.

Bravo was called together for to the boardroom meeting about were going to be sent to Niger, Africa. Afterwards Jason gets to disagreement with Natalie, blowing off her concern for him.

On the plane ride over to Africa, Lisa asks Sonny what the scuffle at the bar was, having already heard of it through the grapevine. She warns him to be more careful as when she had found herself an altercation, she almost lost her career. He gave her his scouts honor he would be better. Once in Niger the team immediately began establishing a plan to fight the local rebels while protecting the American engineers against the pending attacks. As they had already been in multiple smaller scuffles, the team spread out in the hopes of luring the rebels into a section before the bridge. Once there, they would be able to pick them off like fish in a barrel. Unfortunately they had to wait for the rebels to attack them first before they could fire back. After being attacked, Sonny was able to overtake the rebel's own massive machine-gunning to gain control. However, they soon realized they were outmatched and organized an airstrike. They through colored canisters of smoke and Trent called in their coordinates. With that exact location, the airstrike blew up the truck, eliminating all rebels and leaving the bridge safe for the rest of the country.

On the way home, Ray confessed to Jason how he was worried that his daughter was beginning to ask more questions about his job. Jason admitted he never had to be bothered with such things, as Alana had always explained and taken care of everything on the home front. He never had to bother with any of it. Once back on base Spencer was called into the captain's office. He was expecting to get scolding for his actions before the mission, but the Captain wanted to offer him the position of Admiral for *STA-21*.

Meanwhile, Ray was warmly greeted by his family, but it didn't take long for the topic of his job to come up. Naima tried to steer Jameelah away, but Ray decided to sit her down and explain the very outline of what he does. Admitting his job isn't always safe, and he can't always guarantee what will happen, but he will do his best to come home to her and his family no matter what.

## Notes

* This episode takes place in Niger, Africa.
* Nicole Marsden, Alana Hayes, Emma Hayes and Michael Hayes were all mentioned, but do not appear.
* Sonny Quinn was in BUD/S class 252 and Scott Carter was in class 234.
* Full Metal would have graduated on June 1, 2001 from Bud/S.

* Clay Spenser is offered the position of *STA-21* to become an Admiral.

**Deaths**

## Trivia

* BUD/S class 234 was made into a documentary called *Navy SEALs: BUDS Class 234* which aired on the discovery channel.
	+ The actor who portrayed Full Metal is named Scott Foxx and carried out at least two tours in Iraq, thought he was *not* a Navy SEAL.
	+ Someone with a similar name, *STG2 Danny Fox* graduated from that class and is now *Master Chief*.
* ***STA-21*** or *Seaman to Admiral - 21* is the U.S. Navy's commissioning program for the 21st century and is designed to enable active-duty sailors to get a college degree and become commissioned officers. All STA-21 Officer Candidates report to the *Naval Science Institute* before going to their assigned college

**BUD/S Class 234 Statistics**

- Original class size: 80

- How many original students graduated *(no rollbacks)*: 17

- Class 234 roll ins graduated: 8

- Total class graduation size: 25

- Graduation Date: June 1, 2001.

## Cast

* David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes
* Max Thieriot as Clay Spenser
* Jessica Paré as Mandy Ellis
* Neil Brown Jr. as Ray Perry
* AJ Buckley as Sonny Quinn
* Toni Trucks as Lisa Davis
* Judd Lormand as Eric Blackburn
* Jusitin Melnick as Brock Reynolds
* Tyler Grey as Trent Sawyer
* Scott Foxx as Full Metal
* Adelaide Kane as Rebecca Bowen
* Parisa Fakhri as Naima Perry
* Emily Swallow as Natalie Pierce
* Jamie McShane as Captain Lindell
* Kaliayh Rhambo as Jameelah Perry

**Others**
* Joshua Elijah Reese as Sergeant John Krause
* Keith Bogart as Dick Gordon
* Van Epperson as Senator Walters
* Kelly Connor as Blonde Woman
* Judie Garcia as Female Newscaster
* Dan Hellie as Male Newscaster
* Louis Ferreira as Dr. Conners
* Alfred Adderly as Angry Man #1
* Anthony Giangrande as Angry Man #2
* Hays McEachern as Jackass/Donny Wilkes