Difference Between Green Beret vs Navy Seal

Today we explore the difference between green beret and navy SEAL to help you get to the bottom of how these two special forces units differ from one another. Though they may seem one and the same at first glance, this absolutely isn’t the case.

Through diving deeper into the intricacies of each fighting unit, you can fully separate the two and gain all of the knowledge you need to set them apart including a full understanding of how they operate in conjunction with their typical uses and contrasting natures. Ready to find out everything you need to know about the Seals and Berets? Read on!

Definition of Green Beret

A Green Beret is: “An individual who belongs to a British Commando unit or a member of the U.S Army special forces.”

Being the primary special forces unit of the United States Army, the Green Berets are intended for use for a wide array of different operation types and share many of their training and combat principles with those of the SEALS save for one crucial area (combat diving).

Though we can easily compare a green beret vs navy SEAL by simply focusing on combat diving alone, it’s a little easier to understand how the two differ by taking a closer look at their intended functions within the military and the base company they belong to.

As previously stated, the Berets are a subdivision of the U.S Army, but the SEALS belong to the U.S Navy. The former association for the Berets should give you some idea about their intended purpose in that they are primarily ground-based.

Though the Green Berets do maintain a small company of specially trained maritime combat and combat diving specialists to ensure that they can remain relevant regardless of their location, they are specifically used for traditional combat and defence mechanisms where aquatic elements aren’t a feature.

It’s also worth noting that while the SEALS do hold strong land capabilities too, the Berets are almost exclusively used for counter drug operations and humanitarian missions should they arise in the same way that the SEALS are almost exclusively used for combat diving and sea-based combat.

The difference between navy SEALS vs green berets can easily be drawn upon when we consider the aforementioned specific areas of operation in conjunction with the larger companies they respectively belong to.

Definition of Navy SEAL

A Navy SEAL is:  “Any individual belonging to the special forces unit for the United States Navy who is trained for unorthodox combat methods.”

Though the Green Berets and SEALS share many of the same fighting principles, the above description helps us to understand the SEALS a little more effectively. It’s the word “unorthodox” that we need to focus on to highlight the separation further.

SEAL members are often called upon in scenarios where traditional land-based combat methods as per the type the Green Berets specialize in simply aren’t viable for achieving an effective resolution. Specifically, when viability calls for aquatic and amphibious combat, the SEALS are the first port of call.

As we’ve already mentioned, the Navy SEALS are also typically never used for counter drug and humanitarian operations whereas the Green Berets are. The specific individual natures of each combat unit and their practical use helps us to draw a clear line between a navy SEAL vs green beret.

Main Differences Between Green Beret vs Navy Seal

In this section, we’re going to summarize the key differences between these two special forces units with a quick reference table.

Unit:	Navy SEALS	Green Berets
Members on active duty	5,500	2,400
Females allowed	Yes	No
Main roles	Amphibious and marine combat	Land based combat
Sub division of	The Navy	The Army
Established in	Early 1960’s	1952

Difference Between Green Beret and Navy SEAL: Conclusion

We hope that after reading through today’s post, you now feel confident about what each of these special forces units do and how they differ. If you remember that the SEALS are mainly water-based, and the Green Berets land-based, you’re always sure to set them apart!