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 US military.Both are Special Missions Units (SMU) under the control of the secretive Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), they perform various clandestine and highly classified missions around the world. Each unit can equally perform various types of operations but their primary mission is counterterrorism.So what's the difference between the two' Delta Force recently took out ISIS bad guy Abu Sayyaf in Syria; DevGru took out Al Qaeda bad guy Osama bin Laden a few years ago. Same-same, right'Wrong.WATM spoke with formerDEVGRU operatorCraig Sawyer as well as a former Delta operator who asked to remain anonymous to uncover five key differences between the two elite forces.1. SelectionDelta Force is an Army outfitthat primarily selects candidates from within their own special forces and infantry units. However, they will also select candidates from all branches of service, includingthe National Guard and Coast Guard.SEAL Team 6 selects candidatesexclusively from the Navy's SEAL team community. If a candidate does not pass the grueling selection process they will still remain part of the elite SEAL teams.'It's a matter of can candidates quickly process what they are taught and keep up,' Sawyer says.2. TrainingBoth units have the most sophisticated equipment and are highly trainedinClose-Quarters Combat (CQB), hostage rescue, high-value target extraction, and other specialized operations. The difference is the extensive training DEVGRU operators have in specialized maritime operations given their naval heritage.'Each unit has strengths and weaknesses, neither is better or worse,' according to our Delta operator source.3. CultureDelta Force operators can bevastlydiversified in theirtraining background since they can come from various units across different military branches (including DEVGRU). Delta operators will even beawarded medals of their respective branch of servicewhile serving with the Army unit.'No matter what your background is, everyone starts from zero so that everyone ison the same page,' says our former Delta operatorDEVGRU operators come from the SEAL community, andwhile the training is intensified and more competitive, they allretain their roots in familiar SEAL training and culture.'Candidates have proven themselves within the SEAL teams,' Sawyer says. 'It's a matter of learning new equipment, tactics, and rules of engagement.'4. MissionsGenerally speaking, both units are equally capable of executing all specialized missions that JSOC is tasked with. Again, because of DEVGRU'S extensive training for specialized maritime operations they are more likely to receive missions liketherescue of Captain Phillipsat sea.Delta's known and successful missions include findingSaddam Hussein andtracking downAbu Musab Al-Zarqawi.'These are 2 groups of the most elite operators the military can provide,' says Craig Sawyer.5. MediaexposureMembers of both units are known as 'quiet professionals' and are notorious for their secrecy. Unfortunately, with today's social media, 24-hour news coverage andleakswithin the government, it can bedifficult to keep out of the mediano matter what steps are taken to ensure secrecy.While both units carry out high-profile missions, SEAL Team 6 has gained much more notoriety and (largely unwanted) exposure in the media in recent years thanks to government leaks and Hollywood blockbuster films such as Zero Dark Thirty, pictured above.'We are very strict with ourquiet professionalism. If someone talks, you will probably be blacklisted,' says our former Delta operatorFor more differences between these elite forces,check out this SOFREP article.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Watch these giant container ships collide near the Suez Canal
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