do you think the grunts were as elite as the green beret in vietnam?

Question

the firefights with nva were xtremely fierce and frieghtening but we kicked azz.

Answer 1

By definition of the word elite, the grunts could not be as elite as the Green Berets. That does not mean, though, that some of the grunts were any less worthy. It is not what a man wears, or what he calls himself, but rather, his actions that define him.

Answer 2

The word "elite" implies a highly trained individual a cut above the rest. "Elite" forces fail a large number who try out for them. Regular army and marines do not fall under this category. However that definition does not necessarily imply combat effectiveness. I don't see how a comparison can be made that would give either credit over the other. The roles were totally different. Frankly I was much happier being with a group of 80 to 100 marines than I would be in a team of 4 or 5 special forces troopers leading 50-80 popular forces. Did we kick ***?..your damn right we did. Would I feel comfortable with a green beret covering my back...absoluely. They don't get that reputation for nothing.

Answer 3

Why do you think one service is better then the other. Look at it this way when you go into the military, you are serving your country. I was in the NAVY and I was with a unit that is the best of best, but I still was in the military. When someone goes into the military its because that's what they want to do. So do not think that one is better then the other, there all going to do there job no matter what it is. Just some units get do do the dirty job, that what they trained for. So if you think the Green beret are better, its just the job they have to do. As for the grunts they have a job to do and they do, and are proud of it. So just remember some one in the military, is doing there job to keep this country safe. So next time you see some one in the military, just stop and say thank you for doing your job. That's all anyone in the military want to hear.

Answer 4

Green Beret is a hat & hats aren't too tough. The SF trooper wearin' the hat is a much different story. The line grunts were some bad a** troops, but SF received much more intense training. Also, SF didn't conduct large scale opps using large #'s of US troops. We played by Victor Charles' rules. Small opps, Hit & run, counter-insurgency. Do max damage then dissapear. The regular "legs" were stuck in fixed locations(firebases) where they would run patrols & ambushes from. Sf would move more freely around the bush, often living with the indigenous peoples & using them for intel & fire support,(like the 'Yards, Mnongs etc). The SF was trained to be much more independent of massive support & pretty much ran opps on their own. Still, the most dangerous weapon in the world is a trained, well-equipped,19yr old American that's just mad enough & scared enough & tired enough to not care about anything except his partner. A truly dangerous weapon.

Answer 5

"Elite" is a very subjective term. I know that the grunts' mission was extremely important to the war effort and was the primary factor in the U.S. winning the war (history revisionists be damned.)

But "elite" meaning special training and missions...the Green Berets had an elite element. But the grunts did work that the Special Forces wouldn't or couldn't...so in that sense, the "ordinary" grunt was elite as well.

Answer 6

No way, while the grunts did an excellent in what they did, special forces are elite for a reason. alot of times they were so far out they could not rely on fire or air support. They worked in small units often far behind enemy lines and sometimes if they fired a shot their mission was a failure. They were expected to go into the heart of the enemy, and never be seen.

Answer 7

All those Green Berets and Grunts lost the Vietnam war inspite of their superiority of equipments. Am I wrong?

Answer 8

The Green Beret are and have been the very best military unit America has to offer! You hear more about SEALS than the Green Beret because They don't make movies, they make war hence the moniker "The quiet professionals".

Answer 9

the green berets were the "advisors" in the beginning of the "conflict".

The grunts that were in the sh*t, upped their tactics real fast once the US got involved in the fighting.

Answer 10

You cannot compare Special Forces Vietnam-era to any normal "grunt" in that conflict.