What's the biggest difference between SF, Green Berets and Rangers as far as training, specializations and difficulty to get into?

Hmm, interesting. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

In my day, folks would go Airborne, then Ranger OR SF.
Sometimes all 3, and if so would usually go Airborne->Ranger->SF.
Ranger tends to be more combative. "Point towards Enemy" kind of folks.
SF may have more "skull sweat" missions, training insurgents for example, and that requirement for multiple MOSs, at least 2, with Infantry of some kind is usually one.

Good answer Sergeant Major. I would only add that SF tends to smarter than Rangers. Only in that they need to be proficient in at least two MOS’s and usually are multi lingual also. They use their brains as much as their brawn.

SMSgt Thor Merich - I think multi lingual is a stretch. If I recall, SF DLPT standards are 1/1. I can’t remember if an OPI was mandatory. Regardless, a 1/1 means you will still need a terp. Additionally, the DLI standard on the DLPT to work as a 35P (Cryptologic Linguist) is 2/2/1+. While passably fluent..still need a terp.

Anyway, Rangers are the premier light infantry force for the Army. They can do all sorts of neat stuff like ambushes, raids, airfield seizures, etc...premier light infantry stuff. SF, while fully capable as a direct assault force if necessary, is primarily an asymmetrical, or unconventional, fighting force. They also serve as a force multiplier. They insert small ODAs to whatever area to work with, train, build and develop local forces.

I met some borderline genius Rangers, and some borderline illiterate SF. It’s like that in any career field. What I did find particularly unique about SF in my time though, if I had to describe all SF members, is it would be that they were all incredibly good at getting incredibly good at things in an incredibly short amount of time. It didn’t really matter what. You could give an ODA An FM about knitting, toss them a ball of yarn, and by morning, you’ll at least have a new pair of mittens and a easy, 10-step, “how to knit mittens” SOP for anyone to follow. That can’t be said about any career field.

Of course, for the sake of brevity, this an oversimplified description of the difference between the groups. I’m sure there will be more unique perspectives in the responses to follow.

SGT Mark Saint Cyr Should “Asymmetrical Warfare Service” be included in ”Select /preferred” organizations?

I understand some ‘long tab selection’ troops wind up in Asymmetrical Warfare units.

I am not familiar enough with AWGs to comment. They are a recent development.

But my best guess, is based on AWG missions, it does not surprise me that long tabbers would be so assigned. My original response was based grading each level between the tabbers, not where they would be utilized.