Elite units - Pros and Cons?

[Sailor Lars]

One thing to consider when discussing the dilution of ordinary units, is that in a volunteer military (and with the country not under some extremely serious military threat), some of the high quality people who join because they want to serve in special/elite units, may choose not join at all if that option isn't there. I can imagine that some people would choose to go for an interesting civilian career, if the SAS/SBS/KSK/SFOD-D/SEAL/etc. option isn't there and the nearest thing the military can offer them is service in a regular infantry unit.

 

Bitter second that. At age of 17/18, after top of the line in not only nationwide meaning, disciplined training in a combat sports dojo and an ego of a young man with an eyesight of -7 doesn't leave many very "appealing" options left. I don't want to bash any service branch but what A2Keltainen said there fit very well in my own feelings when i was in that point of my life and still capable of choosing back to military service.

 

/quick edit - and posthumorously proven completely lacking in self-preservation instinct - A good boon for "SF" type branches, i'd imagine. Feel free to correct, as usual

Edited December 22, 2007 by Sailor Lars

[Scott Cunningham]

You can always do what the US Army did. Issue everyone a beret, and confer "excellence" on the whole army in one fell swoop.

[Sailor Lars]

Berets are always in fashion, heh.

 

/quicki-mart-edit

 

Are more speschiiul drafting and training encouraged enough of this days, let's say Finland ( or Sweden ) for example, enough to attract the youth.

Edited December 24, 2007 by Sailor Lars