# Where AREN'T the Navy SEALS "effective?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 5, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846 "2017-08-05T15:22:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/1 "2017-08-05T15:22:17Z")
> **[Are the Navy SEALs really so special?](https://www.straightdope.com/21344445/are-the-navy-seals-really-so-special)** The Sea? No problem! Air? Piece o’ cake! Land? Who isn’t! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/2 "2017-08-05T19:36:31Z")
The topic? No idea! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/3 "2017-08-05T20:11:31Z")
I dunno, why don’t you ask Bin Laden? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/4 "2017-08-05T20:37:58Z")
In space? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/5 "2017-08-06T07:11:30Z")
Bin Laden’s in space? ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/6 "2017-08-06T13:17:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The topic? No idea! I assume the OP is referencing this line from the column: > [@Cecil Adams](#): > > The Berets were organized in 1952; the SEALs — named and trained for effectiveness on sea, air, and land — were established in ’62. It seems silly to say “sea, air and land”, since what else is there? But Cecil is just telling us what “SEAL” stands for. (I guess it’s “SEa, Air, and Land”, unless there’s some other locale that starts with an E.) As for why the Navy called them that: My best guess is [someone really wanted their initials to spell out SHIELD](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqXhD_4CKc8) – er, SEALs. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/7 "2017-08-06T20:05:04Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I assume the OP is referencing this line from the column: > > It seems silly to say “sea, air and land”, since what else is there? But Cecil is just telling us what “SEAL” stands for. (I guess it’s “SEa, Air, and Land”, unless there’s some other locale that starts with an E.) > > As for why the Navy called them that: My best guess is [someone really wanted their initials to spell out SHIELD](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqXhD_4CKc8) – er, SEALs. Rather than SAL. Makes sense to me. Then again, I work for a company where the ACE System Support team is part of the Corporate Utilities Management team. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/8 "2017-08-06T20:52:48Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > In space? Well, now that you [mention it](https://www.google.com/search?q=navy+seal+astronauts&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8)… ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/9 "2017-08-07T00:07:42Z")
But returining to the original question, why was the Navy team selected, instead of the Army? ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/10 "2017-08-07T00:27:02Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > But returining to the original question, why was the Navy team selected, instead of the Army? Answer [here](https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-SEAL-Team-Six-and-Delta-Force) suggests Seal Team 6 was more active in Afghanistan, and Delta Force more active in Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/11 "2017-08-07T01:39:42Z")
Increasingly, modern warfare includes cyberspace operations. Do the SEALs dip their toes into that? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/12 "2017-08-07T16:17:53Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > But returining to the original question, why was the Navy team selected, instead of the Army? If I understand what you’re asking, I think you’re looking at it the wrong way. The Navy wasn’t “selected” to host the SEALs. It’s not like there was an unattached commando team looking for a sponsor. Instead, when the Navy decided to train a new commando unit they eventually named them SEALs (probably a marketing move, to reassure the funding authority [Congress] that these guys are useful for more than just boat raids). They were always Navy since their inception. See Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > President John F. Kennedy, aware of the situation in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for unconventional warfare and special operations as a measure against guerrilla warfare. In a speech, to Congress, on 25 May 1961, Kennedy spoke of his deep respect for the United States Army Special Forces. While his announcement of the government’s plan to put a man on the moon drew most of the attention, in the same speech he announced his intention to **spend over $100 million to strengthen U.S. special operations forces and expand American capabilities in unconventional warfare**. Some people erroneously credit President Kennedy with creating the Navy SEALs. His announcement was actually only a formal acknowledgement of a process that had been under way since Korea.[19] > > **The Navy needed to determine its role within the special operations arena. In March 1961, Admiral Arleigh Burke, the Chief of Naval Operations, recommended the establishment of guerrilla and counter-guerrilla units.** These units would be able to operate from sea, air or land. This was the beginning of the Navy SEALs. All SEALs came from the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams, who had already gained extensive experience in commando warfare in Korea; however, the Underwater Demolition Teams were still necessary to the Navy’s amphibious force. Bolding mine. The Navy decided to use its share of the funding to create the SEAL role. > [@Bayard](#): > > Increasingly, modern warfare includes cyberspace operations. Do the SEALs dip their toes into that? An excellent opportunity to retcon the “E” – **S** ea, **E** lectronic warfare, **A** ir, **L** and! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/13 "2017-08-07T17:53:39Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > If I understand what you’re asking, I think you’re looking at it the wrong way. The Navy wasn’t “selected” to host the SEALs. It’s not like there was an unattached commando team looking for a sponsor. I don’t think that was the question. I believe Melbourne was asking why the SEALS were selected for a particular mission, not why the SEALS are part of the Navy. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846/14 "2017-08-07T18:30:14Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > But returining to the original question, why was the Navy team selected, instead of the Army? I think Delta is heavily focused on rescuing hostages or snatching enemy VIPs. In both cases, you’re trying to bring someone back alive who may not be particularly helpful/cooperative and is surrounded by enemies. The Bin Laden raid wasn’t about bringing him back alive. > [@tim314](#): > > Answer [here](https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-SEAL-Team-Six-and-Delta-Force) suggests Seal Team 6 was more active in Afghanistan, and Delta Force more active in Iraq. Any idea why that was? Which one is more active in Syria now?