In the U.S. and the International community are the NavyS.E.A.L.Sthe most respected and feared Special Forces?

Question

If yes, please explain why. And if no, who would you consider the world's most respected and feared Special Forces?

Answer 1

They are very good and I would say the best in the USA but overall NOT the top in the international community

I personally feel that the SAS are amongst the top rated out there as well as the Israelis force [name slips my mind at moment tho] these people are beyond frightening and the fact that its so clandestine none of this bs down the club all together.........very highly trained and very highly motivated

Answer 2

All special forces are unique in their own way. How they came about is also different in each case. Hence the comparison of who's better than who is a moot point.

US Navy SEALs are expert at underwater demolitions, since they were started as UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) Frogmen, and later evolved into both airborne and land warfare units.

Technically speaking, the modern US Special Forces units, like Delta Force, took its formation roots from the British SAS, which is considered by the special operations community in the world to be the foremost experts. Army Rangers are not considered Special Forces, rather they are consider an elite-echelon unit, even though a Rangers qualification is needed to gain entry into SF Schools (this is according to what my high school friends told me after they graduate from it).

Comparing one operator unit to another is like comparing one cutting knife with another. Each has a unique strength, designed and trained to deal with a certain set of situation with the highest level of efficiency. Hence, its pointless to compare. At most, you might want to contrast and that's about it.

Answer 3

It is really pointless to compare special operations units with each other; it's not like they play against each other like NFL footbal teams, or have league standings like Serie A. Second of all, not all special operations units belong to the military; many of them are actually Law Enforcement units (GSG9, GIGN, FBI HRT for example).

First of all, there is an undeniable "home turf" advantage for each of these units. You will not best the SAS in Northern Ireland, Sayeret Matkal in the Middle East, OMON or a Spetznaz Alpha Team in Central Asia, GSG9, GIGN, FBI HRT (and one unit that doesn't exist) in hostage rescue situations, Force Recon, SEALs and SBS in maritime operations, the French Foreign Legion's 2nd Para Regimental Recon anywhere in Africa.

Expertise comes from both intensive training and from complete immersion in your operational environment for an extended period of time. This is why the various Special Forces Groups (and by SF we mean ACTUAL SF Groups, as the term is used far too loosly) are assigned to regions, as are Navy SEAL Teams. Units that are funded and equipped prodigiously (i.e. a certain unit that doesn't exist) excel because their recruitment and indoctrination is even more brutal than the norm, and produces warriors who are capable of achieving concrete results on what appears to be very little time.

Navy SEALs (including their legendary Team 6, the creation of Richard Marcinko) are only truly well known because of the extensive media coverage and bullshit Hollywood movies about them (same with SF, i,e. "The Hunted") and this does nothing to actually state what their capabilities or standing are at large. Asides from the fact that Americans and the rest of the world have a serious disconnect on what each other perceives as reality, most people in the international community don't know what a SEAL is, just as most Americans wouldn't know if it wasn't for Charlie Sheen.

In terms of sheer reputation, the SAS probably ranks the highest. Their first modern-day "public" operation in the Iranian Embassy hostage crisis raised their stature immeasurably. Not only are they the oldest special operations unit out there (they got their start in the Second World War in North Africa under the legendary David Stirling) but their exploits have been well documented and the literature on them is extensive. You can't build a reputation without being known, and being known is EXACTLY what a special operations unit doesn't want to be.

So before you watch "Navy SEALS" or "Tears of the Sun" again, remember there is a severe disconnect between what people perceive to be the capabilities of such units, and the reality,

Answer 4

There are many specialized jobs in the military, and while we tend to give this group or that group all the credit it simply isn't even logical that they did it all by themselves.

Look at the invasion of Afghanistan for instance. You would at first glance think that one combat controller did the whole deal all by himself, but in reality without a 12 man special forces team covering his @$$ he probably wouldn't have survived the first night.

A seal mission will work the same way, a SAS mission will work the same way.

Probably by nature the most dangerous missions any of these guys take on are rescue missions.

Answer 5

The Navy SEAL's are the most respected in the USA, probably because of Hollywood movies without which they would probably be unknown to the general public.

Worldwide the SAS has been the most respected and feared ever since the real life London Iranian Embassy siege in 1980 in which the whole world looked in amazement as the SAS absailed down the front of the Embassy and crashed through the Embassy windows to rescue the hostages in the most copied piece of dramatic armed action ever to have been seen.

Answer 6

You cannot really compare the quality of Special Operations units as they each have there own specialties and/or specific duties.

However I'd say the British SAS would be the universally most repected, feared and well-known unit, followed by the SAS's of Australia and New Zealand who are just as respected, but not as well known.

Answer 7

It'll depend greatly on who, where, why, etc. The Seals ARE very highly trained and respected, but also specialize in specific areas.

Answer 8

The question in itself is a question that special force operators hate. Different forces have special skills that they are good at. The most clandestine unit in the world is Canada's JTF2. There is little known about them.
you can onley be so 'high speed'

Answer 9

each branch has its own operators depending on the mission the services are chosen accordingly in US delta force, seals teams , marine force recons green berets the seals have more public exposure because of Hollywood as JOHN Wayne did for the green berets

Answer 10

Navy SEAL, Sayeret Matkal, SAS, not in order.

The order depends by the time period and the stage.
Navy SEAL can strike everywhere at about any time, the other two are obviously a bit more "regional" but the british are masters and the israeli have huge experience.

Anyway your statement is probably right in global terms.