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American Special Forces vs British Special Forces

American Special Forces vs British Special Forces

Name: Dak

Comments: I read this in another place I follow and being British myself I just had to post it here I hope you don't mind and it won't be rejected because I think the comparison has credit and merit. So the main point of my submission is why do Americans think that their special forces since World War Two is the best in the world even compared with those from the British? Check the comparison:

US navy seals entry requirements

swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes or less, followed by a 10-minute rest
do 42 push-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
do 50 sit-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
do six pull-ups, followed by a 10-minute rest
run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in less than 11.5 minutes
hardest part of the training diving phrase

Us Army rangers entry requirements

49 push-ups,
59 sit-ups,
An individual 5-mile release run event finished in 40 minutes or less,
6 chin-ups.
hardest part of training
sleep deprivation

Usmc recon entry requirements

3 pull-ups
15 seconds flexed arm hang
60 crunches
3 mile run in 28:00
hardest part of training
A long exercise at the end

Now lets look at the British entry requirements:

British special forces

Sas entry requirements
be able to complete the british army bft (battle fitness test)
hardest part of training

The first phase of selection is known as the endurance, fitness and navigation, or 'the hills' stage. This is the endurance portion of selection and not only tests a candidate's physical fitness, but also their mental stamina. To pass this phase, a high level of determination and self-reliance is vital.

The hills stage lasts 3 weeks and takes place in the Brecon Beacons and Black Hills of South Wales. Candidates have to carry an ever-increasingly-heavy bergen over a series of long timed hikes, navigating between checkpoints. No encouragement or criticism is provided by the supervising staff at the checkpoints. SAS Directing Staff (DS) are fully-badged members of the regiment and leave each candidate to their own devices. This can be a marked contrast from the selectee's experience in their parent units. They would be used to their instructors shouting constant instructions at them, along with encouragement and abuse. The demands of life in a special forces unit require each member to be self-motivated.The endurance phase culminates with 'the long drag', a 40 mile trek carrying a 55lb bergen, that must be completed in under 24 hours.

Those who have passed stage 1 have to then pass jungle training. Training takes place in Belize, in the heart of deep jungles. Candidates learn the basics of surviving and patrolling in the harsh conditions. SAS jungle patrols have to live for weeks behind enemy lines, in 4 man patrols, living on rations. Jungle training weeds out those who can't handle the discipline required to keep themselves and their kit in good condition whilst on long range patrol in difficult conditions. Again, there is a mental component being tested, not just a physical. Special Forces teams need men who can work under relentless pressure, in horrendous environments for weeks on end, without a lifeline back to home base.

For the escape and evasion (E&E) portion of the course, the candidates are given brief instructions on appropriate techniques. This may include talks from former POWs or special forces soldiers who have been in E&E situations in the real world.

Next, the candidates are let loose in the countryside, wearing World War 2 vintage coats with instructions to make their way to a series of waypoints without being captured by the hunter force of other soldiers. This portion lasts for 3 days after which, captured or not, all candidates report for TQ.

Tactical Questioning (TQ) tests the prospective SAS men's ability to resist interrogation. They are treated roughly by their interrogators, often made to stand in 'stress positions' for hours at a time, while disorientating white noise is blasted at them. When their turn for questioning comes, they must only answer with the so-called 'big 4' (name, rank, serial number and date of birth). All other questions must be answered with 'I'm sorry but I cannot answer that question.' Failure to do so results in failing the course. The questioners will use all sorts of tricks to try and get a reaction from the candidates. They may act friendly and try to get their subjects chatting; or they stand inches away from their subjects and scream unfavourable remarks about the s-xual habits of their mothers. Female interrogators may laugh at the size of their subject's manhood. Of course, a real interrogation would be a lot more harsh and the subject would not know that they get to leave alive when it's all over. That said, days of interrogations and enduring the stress positions and white noise break down a man's sense of time and reality. The SAS are looking for men who can withstand such treatment long enough so that the effects of revealing any operational information they might have can be lessoned by HQ.

In the SAS about 95% drop out

Forces Special British Forces Special American

That was a bit biased but I have to ask. How does entry requirements make one better than the other in actual field action?

American Special Forces vs British Special Forces History & Civil Business Politics

'Death march' that kills soldiers

THESE mountains are where the world's hardest physical training takes place. Most come out with scars. Some don't come out at all. Ref. Source 1i

Forces Special British Forces Special American

Entry requirements don't make them better or worse, they are just a starting point. In truth, most countries SF units are fairly close in capabilities. Their training is all strenuous and very challenging. For Army SF you go through a 21 day selection and assessment course and that weeds out well over half of the volunteers. So, when you talk about a 95% washout rate you have to remember half the people who try to get to Army SF get washed out BEFORE the training.

The difference for the Americans is trying opportunity. The US spends lavishly on our military, as the richest country in the world we can. That gives our SF more and better training opportunities, more and better equipment, and more and better support. So, once the training courses are completed person for person just about any European SF unit soldier is equal to another, what put the US in the lead is everything that comes afterwards.

And by the lead, it is a minuscule lead. I've trained and/or fought with the British, Australian, and French SF units and they are all top notch. I wouldn't feel slighted in the least to go to war with any of them. I've heard the German, Italian, Greek, Spanish, South Korean and Turkish SF is just as good but I've never trained or fought with them. From what I've seen, Russian SF is highly capable and highly skilled.

And let me add, what you list as entry requirements are entry to start the training itself. The training is tough and has s very high washout rate. That rucksack march you talk about, there is a similar thing in Army SF and SEAL training. Ranger training is different as they have a different mission than the units we are talking about. Comparing apples to apples means Army SF (Green berets which we hate to be called) and Navy SEALs. SEAL Team 6 and Army OD-D (Delta Force) is even tougher, much tougher. The washout rate there is astronomical.

Edited: Abnninja on 1st May, 2017 - 3:39am