The Rolex of a Tinker, Writer, Soldier, Spy

Elliot Ackerman’s Journey From MARSOC To CIA To Bestselling Author, and The Rolex Explorer II On His Wrist

I first met Elliot Ackerman at a discreet dinner in Northern Virginia for current and former members of CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC). While I knew he was a former Ground Branch paramilitary officer, I was more interested in discussing his writing. His book 2034: A Novel of the Next World War had a profound impact on my understanding of the future of armed conflict. 

I’ve always been a voracious reader, but during my time at CIA, I (ignorantly) thought fiction was a waste of precious time. That said, most intelligence and national security “failures” are a failure of imagination, and as I have matured, I have come to realize that it's fiction that cultivates imagination.

Ackerman (left) during his time with MARSOC, after an operation in Afghanistan in 2008, with a Rolex Explorer on his wrist. (Photo Credit: Elliot Ackerman)

Tinker, Writer, Soldier, Spy

Noticing Elliot's polar dial Rolex Explorer II, I asked if he had worn it during overseas deployments. Of course, I knew the answer. I had seen a picture of him as a MARSOC Raider in Afghanistan in the back of a helicopter, the 904L steel case and bracelet a stark contrast to the muted colors of his uniform, plate carrier, and M4. What really interested me is the why, the human story behind Elliot and his Rolex. In our community, it's never just a watch.

Dubai, October 2006

After a hellish deployment to Al-Anbar and Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004-2005, as a platoon commander in 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Ackerman found himself in an unenviable position. Sitting on an amphibious assault ship, the USS Iwo Jima, his platoon was tasked with Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) as a part of the Marine Expeditionary Unit, a call that never came. 

Higher headquarters had decided the Marines needed a break after the Second Battle of Fallujah, in which they endured some of the most intense urban combat since the Vietnam War. As one of the three remaining lieutenants in his company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, he earned a Silver Star and Purple Heart during the battle, leading his platoon through some of the most intense fighting. But this next deployment left Ackerman and his Marines sidelined. It was a difficult position from the Marines’ perspective, as the war in Iraq raged on.

Ackerman in Iraq, with a (not visible) Casio G-Shock on the wrist. (Photo Credit: Elliot Ackerman)

“Skull” - A Breitling-Wearing F-18 Pilot

To pass the time on the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the young Marine officers hung out with an F-18 pilot, callsign “Skull.” Skull was obsessed with watches, and while the internet was spotty, he had several watch catalogs. Skull, a Breitling man, educated the young Marines on the different brands and the watch subcultures within the military. To put it succinctly, Ackerman learned that “cool commandos have cool watches.” He was sold.

October 2006 - Liberty Call - Dubai, UAE

Pulling into port at the height of Ramadan, Ackerman and two other lieutenants made a pact: they would take some of their hard-earned money and buy watches. Walking into the Mall of the Emirates, the Marines found a multi-brand boutique. While he initially wanted a Breitling Emergency, he ultimately decided on Rolex. For Ackerman, it was simple; he was an infantry Marine, and he planned to be a commando, and commandos wore Rolex.

Ackerman’s well-loved Rolex Explorer II reference 16570. (Photo Credit: Elliot Ackerman)

Ackerman had seen Rolex Submariners and GMTs on the wrists of several Force Recon guys, and he wanted to be a part of that culture. But it wasn’t all “cool factor” and bravado. He had learned in reconnaissance school to use a number 2 pencil as pens fail. He applied this same logic to watches; the Casio G-Shock he wore could run out of batteries, but a Rolex runs forever. He had also heard that the diameter of a MAGLITE was designed to charge the lume. 

The Rolex Submariner was the natural choice, as it was a favorite of SOF going back to the Vietnam days, but for skater-punk turned Marine, he was a nonconformist at heart. So he settled on the Rolex Explorer II, reference 16570, with a white “polar” dial. He knew the date and GMT function would come in useful in his trade.

Using funds saved up from the deployment, he remembered paying approximately $4,500 for the watch, a not insignificant amount for a young Marine lieutenant. The other officers purchased a Breitling and a Submariner, respectively, before returning to the ship.

Marine Raiders - MARSOC - 2008

Ackerman during his MARSOC days on a patrol in Afghanistan in 2008, with his Rolex Explorer on his wrist. (Photo Credit: Elliot Ackerman)

After the MEU deployment, Ackerman set his sights on joining the newly formed Marine component of the U.S. Special Operations Command, MARSOC. Given his experience in the Second Battle of Fallujah, he was well suited for the next level. He had horse-traded his way into Special Forces Dive School, Jump School, and Amphibious Reconnaissance School while in Naval ROTC at Tufts University, so he had attractive qualifications and combat leadership experience.

His first deployment with MARSOC was to Afghanistan, and the Rolex Explorer was a constant companion on his wrist. In West Farah, his Marine Special Operations Team worked closely with ODA 7326 in a traditional Special Forces-style mission, partnering with an Afghan Commando Battalion. Before going out on an operation, he charged the lume with a flashlight, and the watch performed as expected. Ackerman had not yet realized the emotional attachment he would later develop with the watch. Despite the luxury trappings that come with Rolex, the watch was a tool, and he treated it as such. Ackerman was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor for his actions during the deployment. 

Ackerman (right) with MARSOC and Army Special Forces in Afghanistan. (Photo Credit: Elliot Ackerman)

The Marine Mafia - CIA’s Ground Branch

After returning from Afghanistan, Ackerman spoke with a friend who had made the transition from the Marines to CIA’s Ground Branch (GB), the operational department responsible for paramilitary operations inside of (then) Special Activities Division (SAD). At the time, GB was run by an informal “Marine Mafia.” While the Army and Navy have tier one special operations units, as a Marine Raider, Ackerman would be forced to return to the conventional infantry if he stayed at MARSOC, so he submitted an application.

After completing the paramilitary training, Ackerman was sent to the case officer certification course at a classified CIA training center commonly referred to as “The Farm.” He found the certification course stressful; he had bet his entire career on passing and becoming a certified Paramilitary Operations Officer. He relied on his Rolex to hit the “four-minute window,” a timeframe used in pre-arranged clandestine meetings with role-playing instructors. He found the steel watch was better suited for clandestine operations than a G-Shock, where appearing tactical is not necessarily a good thing.

Ackerman in Afghanistan, third from right, with his Rolex Explorer II visible on his wrist. (Photo Credit: Ackerman)

It was during this period that Ackerman was exposed to broader watch culture at the highest levels of US Intelligence and National Security. A fellow GB officer, who would go on to lead both GB and Special Activities Center, was in the early stages of organizing SAC’s first unit watch with (brand name withheld). Ground Branch was an amalgamation of SOF from all branches, and each brought their own culture and experience to the table. He was not the only one who appreciated the deep meaning of watches. (Author's note: That's not to say every PMOO has a nice watch; many/most rely on no-frills Digital Tool Watches.) 

After completing training, Ackerman deployed to Afghanistan, conducting train-advise-assist operations with local partner forces. The Explorer II came with him. As a more mature practitioner, it was at this point that he realized the true meaning of the timepiece. He had found his purpose in the mountains of Afghanistan and was living an important moment in history. He knew one day the watch would be passed down to his children. At that point, it wasn’t just a tool but a talisman of his life and experience.

Ackerman speaking at the Sun Valley Writers Conference in October 2021, the Rolex Explorer II on his wrist. (Photo Credit: Sun Valley Writers Conference)

Elliot Ackerman - The Best Selling Author

Today, Elliot has the look and demeanor of an intellectual or artist, because he is. After two years with CIA’s Ground Branch, he left government service, ultimately finding his passion in writing, authoring several New York Times best sellers. His work builds on his experience at CIA and in Special Operations and explores the morally complex issues of war, identity, loyalty, and the cost of conflict.

His debut novel, Green on Blue, is a raw, ground-level portrayal of war in Afghanistan, told from the perspective of a young Afghan boy drawn into the war. My personal favorite is 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, co-authored with Admiral James Stavridis, a geopolitical thriller imagining a near-future conflict between the U.S. and China. In the book, a Marine Aviator pilots an F-35 wearing his Breitling, a character influenced by “Skull.”

Ackerman’s latest work, Sheepdogs, follows an ex-CIA officer and Afghan pilot as they repossess high-end goods, like a Challenger 600 business jet. The book was acquired by Apple Studios to be developed into a series.

It’s Never Just A Watch

To this day, Elliot is a one-watch man. The polar dial Explorer II reference 16570 is the same one he wore on the USS Iwo Jima in the Persian Gulf, the mountains of Afghanistan, and on his wrist while speaking at conferences in his new life as an author. During our conversation, he reflected:

"You are always thinking about what you will pass on to your kids, both physical heirlooms and ideas. This watch will go to my son when he is ready. It is tied to a certain point in my life, not my whole life; eventually, everything gets passed down."

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This article has been reviewed by the CIA’s Prepublication Classification Review Board to prevent the disclosure of classified information.  All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the US Government.

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