Army Rangers and Navy SEALs are two of the most prestigious military units in the United States, both offering very different experiences and opportunities. Both are special operations units in the U.S. military with elite soldiers who have demonstrated excellent physical and technical skills.
Navy Seals. The difference between Army Rangers and Navy Seals is that Army Rangers is an elite military unit within the United States Army, while Navy Seals is an elite military unit within the United States Navy.
Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces has its own elite forces in addition to their regular enlisted units. The Army's Special Operations units include the Rangers, the Green Berets and the Night Stalkers. Here's what Army soldiers can expect from a career as a member of one of these special forces units.
The 75th Ranger Regiment is the U.S. Army's premier large-scale special operations force, and it is made up of some of the most elite Soldiers in the world.
Army Rangers go through much more of an in-depth and grueling training process than that of your average Marine, such as SERE, Pathfinder, Air Assault, Airborne, and so forth. In order to join this elite fighting force, you must volunteer for the Rangers and complete airborne training.
While both of these units are highly elite in their own right, the amount of specialized training it takes to be a Ranger is less than what it takes to be a Green Beret.
SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the U.S. military.
While the route to SEALs training is more direct than for the Rangers, each training is more intensive. To be considered for SEALs training, candidates must meet a series of strict physical criteria and pass several tests.
The short and sweet answer is that U.S. Army Rangers aren't considered Special Forces because Rangers aren't Special Forces. Neither are Navy SEALs or MARSOC Raiders for that matter. Far too often, Special Forces are used as a catch-all term for any and all Special Operations Forces (SOF).
Every branch of the military uses snipers in some capacity. The SEALs, CCT, and Army Rangers all have sniper elements in their units.
Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military. The site is available 24-hours a day.
The role of the Commando is to conduct Special Operations across the operating continuum, typically expeditionary in nature; Commando's operate either as an independent force element or in support of joint manoeuvre for the conduct of advanced force operations or precision strike missions.
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), also called Special Air Service (SAS), Australian special forces unit that exists within Australia's Special Operations Command.
The Rangers Football Club Ltd, previously named Sevco Scotland Ltd, is a limited company based in Glasgow.
Their specialty in the US Special Operations Community is Direct Action. Can a US Army ranger or an officer join the British special air service aka the SAS? No.
To become a ranger, you must first join the US Army and start your military career. Civilians without any basic training in the army are not eligible to apply for a position in these special forces.
Ultimately, it is difficult to definitively say which unit has a better training experience or is superior in any specific aspect, as the SAS and Navy SEALs are highly respected and capable special operations forces.
SAS training is far harder. SEALs are absolutely some of the best Special Operations troops in the world. That said, the real comparison is SAS / SBS and Delta / DEVGRU — SEAL Team 6. SEAL enlisted and officers can go to BUDs after their initial training.
Say it again: American Special Operations Forces. There's a lot that's not known about this group and that's intentional. But everyone knows that these forces are among the most elite and best trained in the world.
Army Green Berets — "Special Forces"
Army Green Berets are among the most elite groups in the world, and provide a pipeline to higher units, like the Army's "Delta" CAG, and the CIA SAD. They have about as much street-cred as numbered SEALs and Force Recon, depending on who's doing the talking.
Though Delta Force generally chooses its candidates from within the Army—most Delta operators come from the 75th Ranger Regiment or the Special Forces—the group also selects individuals from other branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, National Guard and even Navy SEALs.
You must be a member of the Navy to be a SEAL, but Delta Team pools from many branches. Many U.S. Navy SEALs become a part of Delta Force over time.