How Delta Force operators dealt with a leaky roof in their compound

In the earliest days of Delta Force, back in the time of its inception as the quintessential counter-terrorism force in America, the founding members occupied a Military Police (MP) installation that had been vacated to give the emergent Unit a conducive location to call home.

The installation was at a good location and its security was excellent – damn the police; let them find a new place to dwell.

However, the Unit eventually needed a place built specifically for it, so development of a new state-of-the-art compound commenced.

No expense was spared, as nothing was too good for the specially selected, national, counter-terrorism asset that was the Delta Force! Having said that I say this: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

All told, an obscene amount of several million dollars was allocated and expended on the development of this new compound, and there Delta eventually moved to set up permanent shop.

But there was a problem. The roof over the part of the compound where the A-Squadron assault force was located leaked.

In my limited experience with buildings, facilities, and real estate, I have come to understand that there are basically two types of leaky roofs: those on very old buildings; and those on brand new buildings. And it seems that the new and glorious compound did not undergo adequate “sea trials,” as the Navy calls its testing of new capital ships.

The Titanic on sea trials in April of 1912; its roofs were certainly inspected for leaks. (Creative Commons)

It is a legitimate question why the multi-million dollar compound’s roof leaked when it rained.

To fix the leaking roof, Unit engineers spent one million contractor dollars on the repairs alone. And when the repairs were done, and the first rains came… that’s right, it still leaked!

There was great drama to be had over the following days, but the situation wasn’t resolved.

Eventually, there were even year-long stretches of time when the roof over our A-Squadron languished under a sham of protective cover that reared its ugly head every time there was consequential precipitation.

Meetings with our staff engineers, contractors, and lawyers promised hatred, flared tempers, and gnashing of teeth but nothing productive in the way of a repaired roof.

Something had to give. And, finally, that moment came.

This is a grossly exaggerated cartoon ragging on the command for their inability to stop a leaking roof in the A-Squadron maintenance bay – though the leaking in the cartoon panels is generously overstated! (Cartoon courtesy of author)

It was the night after a late evening, overland assault on a small building cluster in the pinewoods near the Delta compound.

Shortly after the post-assault stand-down, the backdoor of the A-Squadron bay came open and a small team of approximately five commandos crept up to one of the building’s corners.

A muffled explosive charge fired a thin wire caving ladder attached to a grappling hook up to the eave of the building where the gable roof met the wall. Four figures wearing all black attire and carrying backpacks scurried up the ladder one by one. One man remained at the bottom of the ladder as security look out.

The men topside moved silently across the eave to a designated location. There they doffed their packs, and broke them open to reveal cans and cans of an industrial-grade voluminously-expanding and fast-drying sealing foam – sealing for ceilings!

Related: When Delta Force torched down the neighborhood

An Austrian Pinzgauer 6×6 all-terrain vehicle in service with the Delta Force somewhere in western Iraq. No Pinzgauers were submerged during the leaks in Delta’s compound despite what the cartoon above depicts. (Photo courtesy of author)

The men worked quickly but with all the grace and precision of seasoned warriors trained to combat impossible tasks in the most unforgiving of places.

Barely minutes into the event the effort was complete. Four lurking figures danced across the roof to the caving ladder and then they swiftly slithered back down to the ground. All equipment was secured, and within the hour, five daddies left the building, climbed into minivans, and drove themselves home to their wives and kids.

When the next big rain came to Delta – the remnants of a waning coastal hurricane sputtering in the hinterland – the senior Unit engineer barged into the Squadron bay and had a look around.

“I though you killers were complaining about a leaky roof here… it seems to be dryer than a popcorn fart all through this area!”

“Well, Sir… you know us Delta boys; we’re just never truly happy unless we are complaining.”

And yet it happened!

By Almighty God and with Honor,

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Feature Image: U.S. Army Soldiers, engineers assigned to the 92nd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, coordinate construction efforts during a school roof repair project at Salamanca, Panamá, Dec. 12, 2025. This repair will ensure the school has a safe and waterfree structure for over 230 elementary students to learn and grow for years to come. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Richard Morgan)

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