Will a larger Special Forces community remain "Special"?

[Richard Simmons]

Been reading and hearing a lot lately about a smaller military overall but a larger Special Forces community. On Fox News the other day they had a former SEAL on and he stated that SPECOPS aren't intended to "hold ground" and that a smaller Army and Marine Corp could be a problem in that regard.

Based on my knowledge of Special Forces, (family members and friends/children of friends both active and retired) as well as books, TV and movies these communities have traditionally been fairly small, elite, highly trained and highly dedicated/motivated. Will or perhaps more importantly can they remain so with double of triple the personnel?

Just seems to me that due to the type of individual needed and the degree and difficulty of training, SEALS, Green Beret and Marine Recon have always HAD to be small because the fact is, only so many can cut the mustard. If that's true can you make substantial increases in these elements without having to lower standards?

Perhaps some of our members with more intimate knowledge of these elite communities can chime in?

[mriddick]

My son tells me the USAF has levels of SF, I would expect the top group will always be "special" enough for everything

[Richard Simmons]

My son tells me the USAF has levels of SF, I would expect the top group will always be "special" enough for everything

Yes, they have PJ's, Combat Air Controllers and their Airwing that supports Spec Ops missions. I also didn't mention Delta, UDT, SBS and others that probably fall into that category.

I just feel that historically these groups were small for a reason and a dramatic increase in size can't be as simple as opening up more billets in those specialities. There are only so many individuals in our society that have what it takes to make the grade. Everyone one that I am acquainted with in SF has something about them that you don't see in the vast majority of us. That "something" can't be taught, it has to be there from birth.

[Partisan1983]

Well there are 100K+ "Special agents" working for the Feds.....just how "special" they all are...no one knows



Maybe the military will split SF into two camps, SF and ESF.......the E is for that little bit extra.