In an interview featured on the Mulligan Brothers Interviews YouTube channel, McPhee offered a candid explanation of one key asymmetry between Delta Force (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, or “The Unit”) and the Navy SEALs. His point has since sparked widespread discussion in military circles about selection processes, unit cultures, and the realities of elite special operations pipelines.
McPhee’s core observation is straightforward yet revealing: a Navy SEAL could, at any point in their career, decide to try out for Delta Force—and many have successfully done so, particularly operators from the Navy’s own Tier 1 unit, DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6). Delta Force recruits almost exclusively from already seasoned special operations personnel, including Army Rangers, Green Berets, and occasionally experienced SEALs. These candidates arrive with proven combat experience, advanced skills, and maturity earned through years of prior elite service.
The reverse path, however, is effectively impossible. A Delta Force operator could not simply transition to become a Navy SEAL because SEAL qualification begins at the entry level through the Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training pipeline. BUD/S is the legendary gateway to the SEALs, infamous for its extreme physical and mental demands. It includes Hell Week—a grueling five-and-a-half-day period of continuous activity with minimal sleep, constant exposure to cold ocean water, surf torture, boat carries, and team-based endurance challenges designed to push candidates to their breaking point. The attrition rate is notoriously high, often exceeding 70-80%, and the training is structured to build water confidence, cold-water resilience, and foundational naval special warfare skills from the ground up.
Delta Force selection and assessment, by contrast, assumes a high level of baseline proficiency. It focuses more on psychological resilience, individual decision-making under ambiguity, advanced marksmanship, and unconventional problem-solving in a low-visibility, high-stakes environment. Delta’s process is secretive, with no public standards, minimal instructor yelling, and extreme attrition (often over 90%). It does not replicate the Navy-specific elements of BUD/S, such as prolonged ocean immersion or the exact team dynamics emphasized in SEAL initial training.
This one-way street underscores broader structural differences in how the units are organized within the U.S. special operations hierarchy. Delta Force operates as the Army’s Tier 1 component under Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), emphasizing mature, self-directed operators who excel at the fundamentals without external motivation or fanfare. Navy SEALs encompass both Tier 2 regular teams and the Tier 1 DEVGRU, with the latter serving as the Navy’s direct counterpart to Delta. While Delta and DEVGRU frequently collaborate on missions and share similar operational capabilities, their recruitment funnels and cultural emphases differ.
McPhee’s comment is not a dismissal of SEAL toughness—both units produce some of the world’s most capable special operators, and mutual respect exists among those who’ve served at the highest levels. Instead, it highlights the unique entry barriers and the different ways elite units forge their members. Delta draws from a pool of already elite warriors, allowing for a selection that prioritizes experience and discretion. SEALs build their force through a punishing foundational course that weeds out all but the most determined, instilling a distinct naval identity from day one.
The interview clip has circulated widely online, fueling debates about which selection is “harder,” inter-service rivalries, and the public perception of special operations. McPhee, known for his no-nonsense style and post-retirement work with SOB Tactical, uses the anecdote to illustrate that true differences often lie not in raw capability but in the paths taken to reach the top. In the end, both Delta Force and the Navy SEALs represent the pinnacle of American special operations—each forged in its own fire, each irreplaceable in its role.
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