# Which S.O.F. is the most elite **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279 "2001-10-18T19:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BuddhaDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@BuddhaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/1 "2001-10-18T19:34:43Z")
Which of these Special Operations Forces is the hardest to become a member of? Which on is the easiest? [list=a][li]Army Rangers[_]Marines[_]Green Berets[_]Delta Force[_]Navy SEALsAir Force SOF[/list=a][/li] My apologies if I left any off this list, my knowledge of the military is [sub]nil.[/sub] NOTE: This is in no ways meant to say that any one is better than the other. My hat is off to all service men and woman wherever/whatever their dedication and loyalty to our country brings them. ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/2 "2001-10-18T20:08:42Z")
This link was posted a while back, with information on special forces from around the world. If you search, you can probably find a recent (within the last month) thread about Special Forces, too. [Special Forces Units](http://www.specwarnet.com/sf.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Infidel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@Infidel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infidel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/3 "2001-10-19T00:40:36Z")
As an army veteran, I would probable guesstimate, from easiest to most difficult: -Marines -Army Rangers -Green Berets -Delta force, possible a tie with -Navy Seals As far as any Air Force special unit, I dont know anything about them ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/4 "2001-10-19T03:17:36Z")
The important point is that any one of any of them is perfectly capable of killing you. I’m not sure that it is fair to characterize the whole USMC as a special ops unit. Certainly outfits within the Corps and made up of Marines are special ops, but to think that the whole of the Navy’s army is elite is simply an abdication to the publicity machine. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/5 "2001-10-19T05:05:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spavined Gelding \* > \*\*(clip)…but to think that the whole of the Navy’s army is elite is simply an abdication to the publicity machine. \*\* Are you referring to the Seals alone? If you are, then I think you’re mistaken…unless you and I don’t understand “elite” to mean the same thing. If you’re not, what other Navy army are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![Ace\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Ace\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace_Face)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/6 "2001-10-19T05:33:49Z")
What about the Very Special Forces? _runs_ ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/7 "2001-10-19T11:52:15Z")
Even the US military calls on the SAS in times of crisis. I heard that the US Rapid Deployment Force can get into place in a week, but the SAS can be there overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/8 "2001-10-19T12:13:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysdad \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Spavined Gelding \* > > \*\*(clip)…but to think that the whole of the Navy’s army is elite is simply an abdication to the publicity machine. \*\* > > Are you referring to the Seals alone? If you are, then I think you’re mistaken…unless you and I don’t understand “elite” to mean the same thing. > > If you’re not, what other Navy army are you referring to? \*\* AFAIK the Marines are technically a sub-part of the Navy. So in essence, they are the Navy’s ‘army’. (think about it- marine = water) Also, don’t the Marines have their own SOF? ‘Force Recon’ or summtin like that? -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/9 "2001-10-19T13:05:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysdad \* > \*\* Are you referring to the Seals alone? If you are, then I think you’re mistaken…unless you and I don’t understand “elite” to mean the same thing. If you’re not, what other Navy army are you referring to? \*\* [/QUOTE] The Navy’s army? The Marine Corps. The publicity machine? Just look at the Dungon and Dragon type ads on the tube. The Seals? Clearly an elite outfit and a bunch of tough cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/10 "2001-10-19T16:12:44Z")
Oh. I get it now. That’s what I get for posting after midnight on a school night. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de053/32.png) [@Umbriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/11 "2001-10-19T17:18:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tomcat \* > Also, don’t the Marines have their own SOF? ‘Force Recon’ or summtin like that? > > -Tcat \*\* Force Recon is essentially the Marine equivalent of the Army Rangers – intended for reconnaissance patrols on behalf of the Marines, as well as giving them a dedicated special ops spearhead. The Navy also has Underwater Demolitions Teams distinct from the SEALs who are meant to pave the way for amphibious landings (scouting out the beach, blowing up obstacles, etc.) If this discussion goes international, I’d certainly vote SAS (or possibly SBS, Special Boat Service, the British SEAL equivalent) for pole position. I think they have the highest casualty rate in training (presumably indicating harsher standards, though I guess negligence can’t be ruled out), and it is made up of volunteers from the other armed services, some of whom take a temporary reduction in rank and pay to get in (indicating singular motivation, if not common sense). Keep in mind, though, that all of the special ops services have their own functional specialties. The counter-insurgency/insurgency support mission of the US Green Berets arguably gives them a level of cross-training that none of the other organizations have (things like agricultural science and civil engineering), which also may imply that their standards of intelligence and education are greater on the average. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/12 "2001-10-20T00:52:53Z")
Don’t forget that even among the SOF’s, they have their own elites. For example, Seals have Seal 6 (or at least they used to). Not sure where Delta gets recruited out of but IIRC they have to make the grade in other SOF’s first. anyone out there know? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/13 "2001-10-20T03:53:59Z")
Rangers. All the other services send their best to Ranger School at Fort Benning. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-s-o-f-is-the-most-elite/88279/14 "2001-10-20T21:12:51Z")
[Check this out](http://www.specialoperations.com/) and decide yourself. Search away.