What makes elite units elite?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 07:45:18 -0400

Is it the people, the training, the equipment, the budget, how they see themselves, how they carry themselves, how they are viewed by others?

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 12 at 2015 7:47 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 07:47:33 -0400

Discipline and training

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 7:49 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 07:49:58 -0400

I'd say it's a little of all of that, but also the results that they get from their operations.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 12 at 2015 7:57 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 07:57:00 -0400

Mindset and attitude. The spirit they possess

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Aug 12 at 2015 9:50 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 09:50:28 -0400

The sunglasses. Without them, you are just average.....

It is the training (which includes the discipline, esprit de corps, and brotherhood), the standards (which cannot be waived), followed by the budget, equipment and support. To be a badass unit, you have to have all of the above. Excellence will migrate to those units. Those units will be selected for "the missions", and the cycle will continue.

**We NEED BADASS units. Equally important, we also need all of the knuckle draggers who make it possible for all of the elite units to do the things they do.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 10:01 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:01:41 -0400

The entry requirements and the budget are the driving factors. It needs to be a limited group of select individuals that conduct great training frequently. That is what drives the esprit de corps and provides the confidence and swagger. If you took any SF unit and gave them the budget of a reserve unit they'd all abandon ship.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 10:26 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:26:55 -0400

What makes a unit elite? A difficult selection process to weed out those who don't meet the minimal standards, a rigorous training and indoctrination program, a degree of autonomy not normally permitted for a conventional unit, and the ability to fire or remove someone from the unit with little effort if they fail to maintain the standards.

The single most important factor has already been brought up...money...and lots of it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 10:34 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:34:57 -0400

You've covered the highlights, but what I believe makes these units elite is the personnel that are attracted to this lifestyle/mission. It's not for everyone, it takes a special mindset.

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 12 at 2015 1:34 PM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:34:16 -0400

I don't want to imply that my brothers and sisters are always better than the rest of their service or branch or "Elite" in the same way as the others have answered. EOD across the services are a small career field and is populated by a bunch of like minded individuals that would literally live and die for the people to their left and right without question. Being small means you know their spouses, significant others, kids, and in some cases extended family on a personal level.

You are your team mate's best man at their weddings, god fathers to their kids, surrogate parents for school activities and family functions, and trusted friends at their hour of need. Knowing that they have your back regardless of personal feelings or differences and would do anything at any time to ensure mission success, at the drop of a hat even at great personal cost, up to and including their lives is a comforting feeling that allows you to do the very same for each and every one of them on every mission, every day.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 12 at 2015 7:16 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:16:36 -0400

Discipline and complete dedication.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 7:47 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:47:14 -0400

Yes,

In all seriousness, it is all of those things. What makes them elite is everything they do that is "above" what others do. Elite is by comparison so what may be on nation's elite troops (significantly better, more trained, more specialized than their normal ones) could be less elite than the average Solider/Sailor/Airman/Marine in the US (and often that's true).

Our own elite forces by comparison must be elite to our "normal" forces. So they have more rigorous training, higher standards, more specialization, more equipment, etc.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 13 at 2015 7:52 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 07:52:40 -0400

Teams trump individual training, training trumps gear.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 13 at 2015 8:19 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 08:19:20 -0400

At least in the case of Navy SEALS:
Oakley sunglasses, "modified grooming standards", and Tap Out shirts!

~Sarcasm!!!

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 13 at 2015 9:50 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:50:55 -0400

Having a bar in your team house in the middle of Iraq and allowing others to partake even though they don't have to. 10th Group will always hold a special place in my liver for them!

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 13 at 2015 9:52 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:52:43 -0400

Beards!

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/04/pentagon-study-finds-beards-directly-proportional-to-combat-effectiveness/

Pentagon Study Finds Soldiers With Beards More Effective In Combat

A Special Forces beard has been standard but many in SF have been angered at a study showing that beards increase combat proficiency for all.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 10:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:01:20 -0400

Drawing from my own experiences here, I'd say commitment above all else. Realize that these "elite" units are all volunteers. Nobody told these boys they had to go to SFAS, Ranger School, HALO, SERE C, etc. Nobody forced them to sign up for these positions, get the training, and endure cold, fatigue, and starvation to prove their mettle. They all know what they sign up for. They commit to it. That commitment and having the heart and mindset to fulfill that commitment is what sets them apart from rank and file. Rightly so in my mind.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 13 at 2015 10:28 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:28:56 -0400

Any unit can be "elite". Give them good weapons, the best training, and the best gear, and on paper they are the "best of the best". BUT what really makes a unit "elite" are the personnel in the unit. They're dedication to duty, their belief in the mission, and their dedication to accomplishment of the mission. Usually this is associated with all of the SOF units, but I'd challenge anyone to say that TOG, USMC Silent Drill, or even the military bands aren't "elite" units based off of the criteria I listed before. If not them, them that simple line unit full of grunts or POGs that do their jobs to the fullest and allow the Commander and 1SG to do their jobs with little to no issues is an elite unit to me

Response by COL Ted Mc made Aug 13 at 2015 12:20 PM

COL Ted Mc — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:20:20 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member - Captain; The people.

Of course "the people" also includes "the leadership".

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Aug 13 at 2015 1:23 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:23:19 -0400

When diplomacy failed in the past, and this happened numerous times, Military might was used, for example, SF, Green Berets, Navy Seals, to counter any adversarial efforts. Read "Hell in a small place."

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Aug 13 at 2015 5:09 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 17:09:09 -0400

Great question LTC Private RallyPoint Member. I think that it is a combination of everything. first and foremost, it is the people. The people of the unit make or break it regardless of the external, or internal, influences. Budget, equipment, logistics, etc. are all external influences that are not controlled by the people. Internal influences consist of how the people see themselves and how they carry themselves. I honestly believe that the people make the unit. They make it elite, or they do not.

Response by CSM Christopher Irwin made Aug 13 at 2015 6:14 PM

CSM Christopher Irwin — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:14:44 -0400

Without a doubt, how they master very basic tasks. It's not solely based on their willingness to die for their team, their heart, or their ability to embrace the suck.mthose things are important yes, but largely come through their training, fatigue, and pain experienced together. All of the training in question is predicated on basic combat, physical fitness, and Soldier-related tasks. They get the advanced training in these schools generally later. You seldom, if ever see negligent discharges or disloyalty to one another from team members. Every elite athlete in the world will tell you they become great through tried and proven sheer muscle memory and practice.....constantly. The best professionals in business did not attain that success without having worked, often very hard to make themselves great. The same applies to our Special Operations Forces

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Nov 14 at 2015 11:55 PM

1SG Nick Baker — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:55:37 -0500

Seiko watches?

Response by PO1 Cliff Heath made Nov 18 at 2015 4:42 PM

PO1 Cliff Heath — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:42:01 -0500

ALL OF THE ABOVE I WOULD NOT SAY THEY REALLY GIVE A SHIT IF THEY CARE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE SEEN BY OTHERS WHO NOT THEIR BROTHERS. THEY KNOW THAT THEIR BROTHERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE THEIR BACKS. THERE IS A REASON THEY PRETTY MUCH HANG TOGETHER BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE NOT SACRIFICED WHAT THEY HAVE THEN YOU CAN'T KNOW THE ANSWER. SPECIAL DAMN RIGHT AND IT WASN'T GIVEN IT WAS EARNED SO NOTHING PERSONAL BUT YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT UNTIL YOU HAVE WALKED THE WALK IN THEIR BOOTS. THANK YOU SPEC OPERATORS I AM PROUD TO HAVE SERVED UNDER THE SAME FLAG AS YOU.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 18 at 2015 6:21 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 18:21:04 -0500

I would say they are well funded and train the way they fight.

Response by CW2 Louis Melendez made Dec 31 at 2015 10:46 AM

CW2 Louis Melendez — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:46:41 -0500

All of the above.
If you observe and pay close attention to somebody from SOF you will see specific traits. That's the key. Everything else helps or enables the people in those units.