What makes elite units elite?

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.

Great question LTC (Join to see). 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.

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.

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.

Mindset and attitude. The spirit they possess

Discipline and training

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

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.

LTC (Join to see)
At least in the case of Navy SEALS:
Oakley sunglasses, "modified grooming standards", and Tap Out shirts!

~Sarcasm!!!

Teams trump individual training, training trumps gear.