As decreed by NATO - any special operation forces, or SOF for short, are defined as military
activities that are conducted by specially designated, organized, trained and equipped
forces - manned with selected personnel, using unconventional tactics, techniques, and modes
of employment.
In many ways, they are exactly like the John Rambo’s of the real world - but which of
them, is the best of the best?
Which of these military forces stands above the rest - taking the top spot as the Most
Elite - Specially Trained - Military Fighting Force on the planet?
Well - there’s a short answer, and there’s a long answer - so let’s find out which
is which.
Hello internet - and welcome back to the most inquisitive channel on YouTube - Life’s
Biggest Questions.
As per usual, I’ll be your disembodied floating voice Jack Finch - as today, we curiously
ask the question - Which Country Has The Most Elite Special Forces?
Roll the clip.
Well, forgive my potential bias - but the short answer is that the British SAS are generally
agreed to be the most well-rounded and adaptable Spec Ops forces on the planet.
But - in actuality - this question has so many differing layers and variables to it
that it’s kind of ridiculous to even ask it.
The real matter of fact is that each and every special operations force across the planet
are like one partition of a swiss army knife.
Which one of them is the best?
At what?
During which conditions?
In which climate?
Each of them have differing strengths and weaknesses, and are more valuable in extremely
particular sets of circumstances.
And that’s kind of been the exact same precedent set since the dawn of warfare.
A military power is a tool - and it is only as useful as its application.
After all, you wouldn’t paint a door with a chisel, would you?
Special forces have played an important role throughout the history of warfare, especially
when the aim was to achieve disruption via hit and run tactics, with an emphasis on sabotage
- rather than more traditional means of combat.
The earliest instance of this, at around the 11th century BC, was when Chinese strategist
Jiang Ziya documented in his Six Secret Teachings the process of recruiting talented and motivated
men into specialized elite units with functions such as scaling heights and making rapid-long
distance advances.
The ancient world saw specialized Carthaginian offensive warriors, camouflaged naval fleets
of the Roman empire and Muslim Caliphate - and of course, the ninja reconnaissance and espionage
forces of Feudal Japan.
However - the British Indian Army were the first modern military power to establish dedicated
special forces.
The Corps of Guides, formed in 1846 - and the Gurkha Scouts - formed in the late 1890s
and first dispatched in the 1897 and 1898 Tirah Campaign.
Perhaps the foremost glaring instance of Special Forces usage though, was during the Second
Boer War by the British Army, between 1899 and 1902.
A scouting unit, known as the Lovat Scouts, were a Scottish Highland regiment made up
of exceptional woodsmen, outfitted in ghillie suits who were well practised in the arts
of marksmanship, field craft and military tactics.
After the war, Lovat’s Scouts went on to formally become the British Army’s first
sniper unit - and set a precedent of utilizing highly specialised individuals to perform
incredibly specific military operations.
This mould was later set during the events of the Second World War, when in 1940 - the
British Commandos were formed, following Sir Winston Churchill’s call for a - specially
trained troop of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast.
The British Commandos were the prototype for the modern special forces as we now know them
- but it wasn’t until a year later, in 1941 - when the British Special Air Service was
formed - following an unorthodox military design by Lieutenant David Stirling - where
his vision was later vindicated after a series of highly successful operations in the Western
Desert of Egypt.
This military concept quickly transpired its way across the planet, and was adapted by
several governments following the British model.
In April of 1941 - the exiled Greek government formed the Company of Chosen Immortals following
the German occupation of Greece - that would later go on to be known as Sacred Band - fighting
alongside the SAS in the Aegean against the Nazi military machine.
Australia and the United States would also sow their own seeds of Special Forces through
the Second World War, as well as the Imperial Japanese Army - and most notably, the Finnish
Army - who established the Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol - an elite fighting force that managed
to hold the entire Soviet Army at bay at the Battle of Ilomantsi, whilst on skis.
Stepping into the 60s - the world saw the formation of the USA’s primary special operations
force - the United States Navy SEALS - an elite fighting force that specializes in special
reconnaissance, counter-terrorism and unconventional warfare - focused primarily on swift entry
and exit military missions.
Similarly, the 1980s saw the formation of the Russian Spetsnaz - who became renowned
for their proficiency in withstanding hellish torture while protecting valuable information
- and who conduct a form of training that is so extreme, that its deemed illegal in
the Western world.
In the 1990’s - the once completely covert Israeli spec ops force - Sayeret Matkal - revealed
itself to the world by opening its once secretive selection camp to other IDF special forces
- and still denies the knowledge of many of its operations across the world to this day.
And here’s the thing - during this time, the vast majority of governments across the
planet had already spent the time adapting and developing their own special forces, after
the model that the British SAS had sown - who were nigh-perfectly crafted for operations
in their own geo-political influence.
The SSG of Pakistan, the Polish GROM - Indian MARCOS, the Israeli Mossad, Indonesian Kopassus,
German KSK, French GIGN, Philippine Scout Rangers, the Canadian Special Operations Forces
Command - the list goes on and on and on.
Any military power on the planet has their own elite branch of special forces operatives.
If you’re looking for a flat figure in terms of numbers - the United States has the highest
amount of differing Spec Ops forces - but they’re also the highest spending military
government on the planet, so it kind of comes with the territory.
Also, the next nation on that list - China - has more Special Operations Forces than
you can imagine, and pretty much nothing is known about them - so that’s anyone's guess.
In terms of pure experience and historical recognition, the British SAS are of the Most
Elite Special Forces on the planet, simply because they were the first established modern
force - but hopefully, throughout the duration of this video - you’ll have understood exactly
why that is merely a point of perspective.
Well - there we have it folks - why don’t you let us know your perspective in the comment
section down below - I’m sure you will.
Before we depart though, let’s read out some of your more entertaining statements
from over the past few days.
First up - Yola Mayo says -- Pls give me a shoutout pls I never got one --- Uhhh….
You know what, I dunno about that Yola -
But then they go on to say,
Also you are my favorite YouTuber.
--- Well!
In that case Yola Mayo, why didn’t you say so!
There’s your shoutout, and thanks for being a Life’s Biggest Question-eer.
Does that work?
Eh, whatever - you get the picture.
On that note folks, cheers for sticking around all the way until the end - you know how easily
swayed I am.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your disembodied floating voice Jack Finch - you’ve been
watching Life’s Biggest Questions - and until next time, you take it easy.