i don’t know if there was an older post about this, but i was wondering if there was a grading system for U.S. military branches on their effectiveness. For example, how is it decided that the Navy SEALS are the best out of all the special forces units.
I doubt there was some formal method. The people who command the various units, see them train and see then fight can compare them and pick the right unit for the job (and not neccessarily the “best” in any objective sense").
yeah. they each do their own thing in special ops. i mean, it’s like comparing a math teacher to a biology teacher.
There are ratings on readiness – such as whether a particular unit has enough people, equipment, and training to accomplish their mission. But no, there isn’t a “How Much Ass Do These Guys Kick?” measurement.
For example, every single fighter pilot seems to believe he flies the best plane in the world. And they are probably right… depending on what you’re evaluating. No need to use facts and statistics to dispel their bravado.
I also seem to remember that there are annual competitions somewhat like this, but open to a broader group of the special operations community. Can’t seem to remember the name, though – but it is an interesting competition to find the toughest two guys on the block.
Nobody* decided the SEALs are the best out of all the special forces units. The SEALs are specifically selected, trained and equipped for small-unit, high-intensity, short-duration penetration of enemy territory. That was what the Bin Laden mission required, so that’s why they were sent. (Yes, for purposes of killing Bin Laden, Pakistan was treated as "enemy territory, or at least not friendly territory.)
If, say, the mission had instead called for long-term, high-visibility, low-intensity patrolling of semi-secured territory, the SEALs would be one of the worst units at fulfilling the mission. The uniformed services have different units with different capabilities for different mission profiles. Not that there isn’t overlap (sometimes significant and nearly indistinguishable overlap) but nevertheless the distinguishing features between units are mission capabilities, not bad-assery.
That said, there are “tiers” in the Special Forces system. DEVGRU (a/k/a Seal Team Six) and 1st SFOD-D (a/k/a Delta Force) are Tier One. The rest of the SEALs, the Ranger Regiment, and the Green Berets are Tier Two. The difference between the tiers is again based on capabilities and mission profiles. At the risk of oversimplifying, it’s the difference between black ops versus gray ops.
- For certain values of “nobody,” that is. The SEALs themselves certainly believe they are the best, although their counterparts in the Deltas would dispute that vigorously. You can find any number of popular books and websites claiming one or the other or even a different unit is “the best” but this is posturing to a large extent.