This is not even a close race. The US Navy SEALs are by far the most overhyped and overrated unit on the planet.
It's not that they're that bad, they aren't. The SEALs are one of the finest Special Operations Forces units in the world. The truth, however, is that US Army Special Forces and many other Western Special Operations Forces are better trained and more skilled than them.
The biggest difference between the British Special Boat Squadron or the German Kampfschwimmer, for example, and the US Navy SEALs is that the latter enjoy far more publicity.
Former US Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill is one of two Special Warfare Operators who wrote books about the Bin Laden raid. (Photo: The Guardian)
When you meet Navy SEALs, they tell you right away what they are doing, other SOF units never do that. Here where I live (in Kosovo), our military and special police often train with American and European Special Operations units but you rarely hear about it. Only when the SEALs are here (Team 8 and 10 regularly visit our Special Police unit), however, they let the whole country know; through Instagram stories!
In military circles, modest and being a “quiet professional” are virtues that most units respect. Bragging is frowned upon.
You won't hear much about the missions of the German Kommando Spezialkräfte, for example, not because they fought much less than the SEALs but because active and former members are discouraged from talking about their jobs (there are even some Navy SEALs fanboys on this platform who state that the German Special Operations Forces haven't seen any action).
Every SEAL, on the other hand, seemed to be running after a lucrative book contract as soon as they are discharged from the military. Some SEAL Team 6 members even had to be punished for disclosing confidential military information while consulting a video game company.
Especially their public row over who of them killed Bin Laden was a sh*tshow and a big disgrace.
Short: being beloved and admired by YouTubers and gamers who absolutely have no clue about the military doesn't necessarily make you a better soldier.
