Mough, about 90% of the guys going to BUD/s are either guys with SEAL challenge contracts, or are volunteers in basic or A-school. The 10% of the fleet who go to BUD/s are generally guys who don't like ships (guys who chose the wrong military branch or career).

 

I also agree that it is ridiculous to compare units by the length of their training. In fact, I would argue that spending too much in an initial training environment, wether it is basic training or one of the Special Operations pipelines, can be detrimental to the training of the unit. I've heard that a lot of guys just getting out of SFQC realise how little they actually knew compared to the guys who have been in group a while and how much more they learned when they were on a team. In an initial training environment there's a lot of things that slow down the pace of the training (waiting to get people qualed, administration, etc). And the most important thing is that it isn't the real thing. Far more effective training can be done with your SF detachment/SEAL platoon/SAS Squadron etc. Initial training environments are supposed to lay down a good solid foundation, not make anyone an expert in anything. That is at least the opinion of someone who spent some time in the conventional army, I doubt it would be different for SOF. The only exception to this rule is the Special Tactics guys, who have a lot of technical schools to go to on top of everything else.

This is some pretty retarded stuff here. Guys who have read 4-5 books arguing with guys like Mough and Bob who are/were in the business.

 

There is a reason that CAG, DEVGRU, SAS, SBS, GSG-9, etc get all of the 'high profile', ultra-classified (well, not to make it sound too 'ninja' or false) missions. They are Tier 1 units. They generally get the best guys, the most money, the best facilities, the latest/greatest weapons, and most importantly (regarding missions) they get the most faith placed in them by our leaders.

 

Honestly, we have dealt with 500 pages of bs. We are all being too political and stupid here. Most of us would agree the SAS is better at shared tasks (DA for example) than your average SEAL Team. There's a reason for that. Money/Facilities/Weapons/Training is typically more/better. Yeah, I may be out of line. Sue me. I'm being honest here.

should start a pool on when this thread hits it's 1000th post.

Ok Bob be honest, how much ninja training did you receive?  No funny stuff!  And did you use said ninja skill set in awe inspiring fashion on international TV?  In an urban setting?  We need the truth!

...none. I did recieve a form of martial arts training [as was the norm], and I believe the idea of teaching this was just brought in as i came in [i.e. they weren't too fussy about it before]. A couple of the lads were into that sort of stuff, me not so much, I preferred to put faith in my short [in the event things got romantically close {which they never did}]. I tried to test my mettle against other blokes in the regiment, just buggering around milling really and often was my backside handed to me [the name horsfall rings a bell ]. As for being on TV [I assume you're referring to the embassy seige of fame and folklore?], I wasn't on TV, no, the macs were but not I. As for whether I was there or not, who knows?

Bob, did you ever train with Army SF (US)? If so, what was your impression of em?

i've worked with the oppressive liberators before, yes. 'twas a wonderful location, one of those places you just want to go with a compass and get lost. We were doing a bit of indigenous assistance somewhere on the map . Great bunch of lads, and the assisting indigenous forces was right down their alley. I believe it was the 7th/devils brigade [so that'll give you a bit of an idea where on the map we were].

 

Awesome, just curious what your thoughts on them were. Ever worked with any other US forces, and if so, what are your thoughts?

 

All I could find on 7th was something about Vietnam, and Equador. So either SE Asia or South America?