Delta Force and SEALS are both world-famous U.S. Army Special Forces.
The official name of Delta Force is the U.S. Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment. SEALS is often referred to as the United States Naval Special Forces Detachment 6, officially known as the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). The official name is DEVGRU.
Both units are commissioned by the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and are among the elite of the U.S. military, capable of accomplishing impossible combat missions, such as the recent killing of Abu Sayyaf, one of the leaders of the Islamic terrorist group in Syria, by the Delta team, and the killing of Osama bin Laden by the Navy SEALs a few years ago.
However, there are differences between the two.
- Different selection of soldiers
The Army’s Delta Special Forces are primarily selected from the Army Special Forces Regiment and the Army Rangers, and sometimes from the National Guard and Coast Guard, among others.
The Navy SEALs are selected only from the Navy Special Forces, even if the candidates do not pass the screening test, they remain in the original detachment as special forces.
U.S. Special Forces soldiers. (Wikipedia)
- Different training focus
Both the Delta Force and the SEALs must undergo training in “close quarters combat,” “hostage rescue,” and reinforcement, and both are equipped with the most sophisticated equipment.
However, the SEALs focus more on training for maritime operations.
Regardless, the two forces are evenly matched and difficult to distinguish.
Navy SEAL soldier. (Wikipedia)
- Different team cultures
Delta Force members come from different departments and have different backgrounds, so the force is somewhat diverse.
In the words of a retired Delta Special Forces soldier, “Everyone starts from scratch regardless of the different backgrounds they come from.”
In contrast, the SEALs maintain a traditional team spirit consistent with the total team because they are selected only from within the Naval Special Forces.
- different military missions
Generally speaking, there is little difference between the two units in their ability to execute extremely difficult and dangerous military operations assigned by the Joint Special Operations Command. However, the SEALs both tend to be involved in maritime operations, such as sea rescues as depicted in movies like “Captain Philips. The Delta Force, as the outside world knows it, was involved in missions to capture dictator Saddam and kill terrorist leader bin Laden’s deputy, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi.
- Different media exposure
Both special forces have had to hide their names because of their covert missions. But with the popularity of social media, 24-hour rolling news, and leaks from within the government, people know more or less everything about these two elite forces.
The Navy SEALs seem to have more notoriety, though not by choice, but are more popular with Hollywood producers, such as “Zero Dark Thirty,” a thrilling action film about the SEALs’ killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, which played out in 2012.
A retired Delta Force officer once said, “We are strictly disciplined. If anyone spoke to the outside, it would be a demerit discharge.”
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