You want to know who the best in the world is?  Here they are.  They are the best of the best who have been culled from the best.  You can't get much more elite than that.

 

The Special Activities Division (SAD) is a division of the Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service, responsible for covert action paramilitary operations, the collection of intelligence in hostile and/or denied areas and all high threat military and/or intelligence operations when the U.S. Government does not wish to be overtly associated with such activities.

The National Clandestine Service's action arm is SAD, which conducts direct action such as raids, ambush, sabotage, targeted assassinations, unconventional warfare (e.g. training and leading guerrilla and military units of other countries in combat), and deniable psychological operations, the latter also known as black propaganda or "Covert Influence". Special reconnaissance is another area that can be under either military or intelligence, but is usually carried out by SAD officers when in denied areas.^[4]

The unit's existence became better understood in the autumn of 2001, when U.S. special operations forces arrived in Afghanistan to hunt down Al Qaeda leaders and aid the Northern Alliance against the ruling Taliban. SAD units also defeated Al Qaeda in Northern Iraq prior to the invasion and trained, equipped, organized and led the Kurdish forces to defeat Saddam's Army in the North.

Conflict occasionally arises between Special Operations Command (SOCOM) units and SAD as to who will be the primary mission force for these types of operations. This is usually confined to the civilian/political heads of the respective Department/Agency and is largely a result of those individuals seeking credit. When SAD is combined with the U.S. military's Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and/or other SOCOM units, many consider it the most lethal and effective special operations force in the world.^[9] SAD selects its operators from the most elite units in the U.S. military such as the Navy's Special Warfare Development Group (especially, but not limited to, SEAL Team 6), the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force, CAG), Special Forces (Green Berets), Rangers, and the Marine Corps' Force Reconnaissance detachments and MARSOC.^[9][1] SAD operatives combine the best special operations and clandestine intelligence capabilities in one individual. These individuals can operate in any environment (Sea, Air or Ground) and with limited to no support. These Paramilitary Operations Officer (as they are called) are from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of SAD, which is considered one of the most elite special operations units in the world.^[9][2] SAD, like the rest of the CIA, requires a college degree to be considered for employment. It is not unusual for SAD officers to have graduate degrees and/or degrees from Ivy league schools.^[

Why thank you so much for clarifying the issue for us with a wonderful Wikipedia cut and paste job.  We are forever in your debt, we can now safely consign this most insightful discussion to the annals of history. 

 

Its that time of year folks......Schools out for christmas!!!!!!!

SAD selects its operators from the most elite units in the U.S. military such as the Navy's Special Warfare Development Group (especially, but not limited to, SEAL Team 6), the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force, CAG), Special Forces (Green Berets), Rangers, and the Marine Corps' Force Reconnaissance detachments and MARSOC.

Its not just Force Reconnaissance & MARSOC Marines that SAD recruits fr/.  They actively recruit fr/ all Marine Unrestricted Ground Combat Arms & MAGTF Intelligence Officer Fields.

 

Most notably of a 'unknown' Field was Marine Capt. Johnny Micheal Spann who was an Artillery Officer & JTAC.  Who I believe, I'll have to check, served in ANGLICO before leaving the Marine Corps.

I WILL GO FOR THE NAVY..

Its not who is the best thats the real question - its about effectiveness - getting the job done.

Imagine if these Yanks did the Iranian embassy hostage thing.

Guarantee that there would be no Hostages left alive.

Probably shot most of the people on the street and some of their own as well.

Collateral damage or just trigger happy?

Then would have been on Oprah as heroes.

Mission Acomplished ??

All the Gear , no idea.

When have they ever won anything?

Best weapon they have is the self loading automatic mouth and they certainly know how to shoot that off.

 

 

 

Hahaha. The hypocrisy of that last sentence amuses me :)

 

B.L. 

Delta Force and SAS are the 2 most elite combat units in the world.  There is NO close 2nd.  Seals are not even consided #2 in the US Military.  Ghost Recon are more elite then Seals.  To even be considerd for Delta, you alomost have to be prior Special Forces.  ie, Ranger, Green beret, seals, etc...  Not only does Delta and SAS train for FAR longer then Seals do, but a much smaller percent of the Men actually complete the training and are taken on then Seals.  Seals have about a 40% pass rate, where Delta has about a 5%.  And that is assuming you were actually good enough to be chosen for the selection process.  Their are less the 200 Delta Operators in the US Military.  It is the smallest, most elite and most highly trained unit in the US Military.  They are older, more mature, wiser, and have FAR more combat expiernce then Seals.  Seals are usally much younger, and far less expierenced.  The number 1 unit the CIA recruits out of is Delta Force.  The vast majority of CIA feild operators are prior Specail Forces, mainly Delta. 

Yeah thanks for that, I take it you have experience of all those units, seeing as you have given such a difinitive and expert opion.....oh and also experience of all those other 3rd divison units too.

 

 

BTW I hope that post of yours was a piss take, because, Ghost recon don't actually exist

 

 

and it's SEAL,.s a seal is a xmallish waterborne mammal a SEAL is a very tough, although unfortunalty also in the Navy guy.