Navy Seals VS Army Special Forces?

Question

I'd like to join either Special forces or Navy Seals. I heard seals has longer and tougher training than Army SF and it offers a shorter contract also. Can anyone tell me why Army SF are better trainined than Navy Seals or if Seals are better trained than ArmySF in general.

Answer 1

Alright, while both are special operation detachments they are many differences and only some similarities to what their mission is.

If sneaking around behind enemy lines and high profile missions such as rescue, recon, and assasination are things you like, then SEALs would be a good choice.

If you like teaching farmers how to fight way behind enemy lines or you like to plan and execute how to capture and interrogate a "high interest" target, then Special Forces are for you.

Navy SEALs focus more on fighting and Special Forces focus heavy on other stuff such as teaching, help building infastructure in towns that have been destroyed, and teaching. That is why to become a Special Forces team member you must learn a different language. The Army depending on what language you learn, which depends on the score you get on the DLAB, sends to the respective region.

Don't let anyone tell you SEALs are better than Special Forces or vice-versa they each have their own mission statement. Oh, and by the way Special Forces do a lot of combat missions also just like SEALs but they also teach which is why Special Forces are often called renaissance soldiers b/c they do other stuff besides combat missions.

Though it depends on the schools you take (ex. jump school, SERE),some you have to take others you can volunteer for, Special Forces train a little longer than SEALs b/c they have to go to language school in California for six to twelve months.
Before you chose, although you probably know this, I would recommend looking deeply into both options there are tons of books out there and websites.

Now all of what I just said aside I think Special Forces is better because it's extremely physical like the SEALs but there is also a heavy mental portion to it. I'm not saying SEALs are dumb, b/c they are some of the Navy's best and brightest, but you have to be smart to be Special Forces and extremely tough.

Answer 2

First, you can't just "join" the elite in any branch. You apply for them after your in and reach a certain rank. Second you can't compare apples to oranges, they do different missions. The Navy has the S.E.A.L.S the Army elite starts with the Rangers, then Special Forces and more comparable to SEALS would be Army Delta Force. The Air Force would be the PJ's as far as risk and adventure goes. And the Marines of course Recon. All very reputable and highly elite.

PS the ones who "brag" to no end about their SEAL or other elite service, usually are liars. The true elite have no reason to brag, they view it as their accomplishment and their job.

Answer 3

The Army SF and the Navy Seals are about equal in training, but they have very different missions. The Seals focus mainly on covert recon, demolitions and sabotage whereas the SF are more focused on advanced combat and the training of foreign forces.

Training varies on specialty, for example an SF medic (18D) goes through over a year of trauma training on top of his SF courses. I assume the same could be said of a Seal who specializes in underwater demo. I'd say that both the seals and SF are highly trained and among the best on earth...only "Delta" is above them and they select from all spec-ops components.

Answer 4

i don't know if anyone would be able to tell you WHY one's better trained than the other. seals go through a more physically/mentally demanding training though. try this on for size: chicago, cold like no other, there's a lake, there's a thin layer of ice over the lake, i know seals that will jump right in and take a few laps just for fun. they're trained to handle and swim in below freezing temperatures, trained to go airborne, trained to handle their rifle with expert marksmanship. one of the US's finest specical ops out there. truely a wonderful amphibious force. you can basically land them anywhere in the world and they'll get the job done. if you want something blown up over night, they're the ones to call, the UDT/SEALs. Army SF is more strategic battlefield missions.

napalm: they're now actually deloying SEALs out to iraq now as well along with the marines and soldiers. so they're starting to spread them out a little more. probably because of the demand of more troops though.

Answer 5

Navy doesn't allow you to have too many dependents when you join. Army is more likely to see action.

Army training is being better adapted for modern warfare because, although navy may be used on occassion, the army special forces are just more useful at the moment. Things may change if we start fighting pirates in Indonesia or something.

Answer 6

Both are great and have great training, you'll have to pick as one does one job and the other a different job. Why concerned with a short contract, witha ll that training I am sure you will want to put it to use for a good long time!

Answer 7

Marines Reconnaissance is another option I would advise you to consider.
My husband is a retired Recon Marine and they are a division of the Navy and a very select FEW. But it does require rigorous training and you have to be a good swimmer but they are ELITE and they are treated differently. I believe they have 4 year contracts.

If you want any other info let me know... he has a lot of buddies that are still in ... And can offer very beneficial info, lots of times recruiters will tell you one thing and its a lot of bullshit...whatever you do, don't let them sign you in as a boot...its sucks and they make it harder for you to cross over.

Answer 8

One of my co-workers is a former Navy SEAL who did two tours in Vietnam. He told me what he could about the missions he did and countless stories about how they had to go in and bail out the Army and Marine Special Forces. The SEALS are definitely the elite of the elite. They have a 70% washout rate because their training is SO demanding, but I'd take one SEAL over ten Special Forces troops.

Answer 9

all special forces have great training but the seals are the elite of the elite. The best of the best. One reason they are already all over the world and with aircraft carriers they are on all oceans and ready for the tasks.

Answer 10

Go get em Tiger.
And thank you for planning to serve our country.