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by mywittyname 2804 days ago
Correct. It's straight-forward to get into the regular special forces. Anyone with slightly better than average intelligence and physique can make it.

The elite special forces is a completely different ballgame. You need to be smarter and more fit than probably 90% of the population. Lots of these guys end up doing very well for themselves after leaving the military.
3 comments
SaltyBackendGuy 2804 days ago
> regular special forces. Anyone with slightly better than average intelligence and physique can make it.

From personal experience I can say this is incorrect. The 'regular' special forces are the Green Berets (Top 5% of the Army). Elite special forces (CAG/Delta) 5% of the 5%

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ryanwaggoner 2804 days ago
You have a ridiculously optimistic view of the US population if you think that 10% of us could become Navy SEALs.
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mywittyname 2804 days ago
You misunderstood my comment. Top 10% in both intelligence AND top 10% in potential physical fitness. Which has a ceiling of top 1% (0.10 * 0.10), but practically speaking, it's probably closer to top 0.1%.
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beaconstudios 2804 days ago
if you go by YouTube comments, 10% already are.
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jki275 2804 days ago
comments like this are just silly.

Not even 1% of the military can get into SOF, and that's less than 1% of general US population.

The people who get through BUD/S are generally Olympic class athletes who are selected for very specific mental and physical traits that are almost non-existent in the general population. There's absolutely nothing straightforward about getting into any SOF organization.

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