I can attest to this. In the Corps we see these guys all the time. The toughest guys who make it through Recon or MARSOC selection are always the world of Warcraft nerd smart guys. Our operator culture doesn’t care how big and strong you are, they can teach and train that…can you think, can you problem solve, can you work with people, can you grind…that’s what makes the cut.

MrBallen has a completely different personality than most seals, and he can tell ANY story and it will be more interesting than anyone else telling the same story. It's definitely a gift.

Gosh, I admire this guy probably more than any other of the seal guys I look up to.. he’s SO humble.

Funny how he said Seals etc can recognise each other on sight having never met before. I have always found it very similar with boxers/martial artists. As a Muay Thai fighter living in Thailand you can just tell when someone else trains as a fighter, you just feel it! Quite often at the supermarket or out in public I find myself nodding/dapping up random guys IV never seen before because we can just tell that we are both fighters. Always feels really cool actually

Absolutely dead on about the jocks, most matured quicker than the rest physically and it helped find success in sports, we always lost to teams comprised of farm kids cuz those kids grew up doing chores and goofy stuff like riding calves or pigs, they were used to getting banged around.

As of 11-18-2023 there are 117 members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Team 6).

Great guy. HONEST and LOYAL. As an old guy born right after The Greatest Generation, they, TGG, should make you an honorary member. Glad to know there are still some like you. Thanks for everything.

I love this guy! God bless you and thank you for your service and the amazing story telling!

Great interview John! We all are such big fans that it's nice to see you in a different context, especially about your past and what you are doing now. We're all very proud of you! Merry Christmas!🎄 To you and your family!

Such a stud this guy is the embodiment of a true badass. Humble yet very dangerous!

Regardless of him being a Navy Seal or not, love his channel and videos!

I never would have made the seals even if the military is the route I went, but being hyper vigilant has saved my ass a few times. Always be aware of your surroundings, never keep your back to the door, know your exits, you should be ok

Thank you for your Service

I lived with a Green Baret for some years. I was never in fear of anything. He was always on top of everything at every place we went. It was a trained skill he never lost. I felt so secure.

that last part of Ballen's conversation was very interesting. very interesting and a very good insight into the mind dynamics of the super-star recruit vs. the havie-nothing-to-lose recruit. the super-star recruit is not use to criticism and losing. he was born with a singular gift from God but his ego won't let him fail. he can fail and get back up but he won't because he's use to winning all his life in his singular endeavor vs. the Seals which require multiple skill sets and training.

This guest is very smart and has a great presence. He was explaining how he got interested in the military and the interviewer asked him "wow whats SEAL team six". Sure wudda been nice to hear this guest's story. Luckily the guest came back to the story on his own.

He's a really intelligent clued in guy . A great communicator .

Great Show! Thank You for Sharing. I listen to Jocko a lot too 👌 Sooooo Many Navy Seal Stories!

The whole Navy Seal training process is just like the equivalent of the British SAS whole tough it is mentally physically designed to make u fail. That is why these guys are the best of the best at what they do. Mr Ballen is such a dude. His story telling is very fascinating. Among the best out there

The only person that can tell a story and somehow make it better and leave me more creeped out than if I had watched in happen in a movie. Its amazing.

Mr ballen continues to inspire me

Mr. Ballen is a great dude with an excellent channel.

MrBallen is so interesting! I could listen to him all day.

Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

Never knew Mr Ballen’s past, this was such a cool interview. I will likely watch his videos with a different perspective now.

Currently thinking about joining the Army or Airforce pretty soon and im pretty much doing research first and ive always watched mr ballen before hand and i stumbled across this video. and it makes things seem more easier, but in the sense of being more clear, rather than trying to sell me on joining this felt more of an inspirational talk between the dudes.

10:38 He said in farsi that “ i only speak farsi “ . He pronounced the words very well

Mr Ballen, share your Seal stories, they are yours. Not those other salty Seals. They need to grow up and get with the times! Social media is a huge part of our daily life! Mad respect for Mr Ballen! You have turned lemons into lemonade! Thank you for sharing your good fortune with charities!!❤ Bless you!! And thank you and everyone who has served for our country!! Cheers!!

I realy enjoyed this

He graduated when I did, and he’s done so much and I’ve done so little. When he went to talk to those family friends I was getting my first felony. Now I manage a single branch of a nonprofit store that helps house homeless and helps people get clean. And this dude is a decorated veteran with millions from this YouTubing stuff I assume

Dude needs to do Shawn Ryan’s podcast

This interview is fantastic

I feel and see the same thing when it comes to both wrestlers and fellow Marines/military members.

I could listen to this dude talk about anything... He could read the recipe for muffins and I would be glued

All American badass Mr.Ballen!!!! Salute 💪

Being able to say you’re a seal or SF is something that you should be so proud of. So bad ass. The modern day “Spartans” Merica baby 🤙🏽

I believe him when he says he can clock a Navy Seal in an airport, I can tell a Marine when I see a guy eating crayons in a subway 😅

I enjoyed every minute of buds

True words of most all special programs in the military, with the exception that SEALs are at the top of Navy careers. USN Special Weapons 81-87 Lebanon Grenada & NATO Europe.

Everyone knows of Team 6 but dont get it twisted the other Teams are absolute Studs as well. Extremely difficult to get in any of the teams.

I’m not USA but I like MrBallin videos and his story telling. No one in my military would ever be angry if I told the truth about our training and I wish the internet was around back then Even now I try to stop anyone trying to join my military

Man. Mr. Ballen is very intelligent. He’s very good at speaking.

The battle is always between the ears.

As a army vet i thank him for real service

From what I’ve researched, the rough numbers that make up DEVGRU are… 1,300 military personnel and 450 civilian personnel. There are four squadrons that the unit is comprised of and each squad has 50 operators. So there are approximately 200 actual SEAL operators in DEVGRU. Remember, “military personnel” doesn’t necessarily mean “operator.” There are a TON of support roles that are dedicated to that unit. From my research, that number probably includes SWCC boat crews, EOD techs, non-SEAL Corpsmen, SARCs, and to my surprise, USAF PJs and CCTs.

Enjoy the way you open up and present your military experience . As always thank you for your service, wonder if you would want your children to serve 🤔

"The best time you will never want to have again" that is an interesting description.

Wow. Just wow!

What a nice guy

He seems really down to earth

More power 2 u B, Doc is out, these 2 FNGs r killing me.

Man it's funny what he says about the big intimidating dudes dropping out right away. When i went through SAR (search and rescue) school i was a skinny little E-2. There were a couple of big dudes that started out with me in my class. During indoctrination, not even the actual training, these big dudes just dropped out. It really surprised me because it's not like it's super easy to just get to that school.

i know nothing about navy seals... regardless... when you see someone that has gone through what you have and you can just tell by looking at them... i believe it is a combination of "intuition"... but even more than that... its being able to identify emotions... especially very unique emotions brought on by unique experiences... its almost like you can look at someone and think, "i know how your feeling because i have felt that exact same way before." that would be my best guess on why he was able to pick out and identify another navy seal without even knowing the guy. its so much more complicated than that... but that would be a short and sweet version of my theory on that whole phenomenon. there is an old expression, "i can see the pain in your eyes." its kind of like that. but its not just pain... its pain... pride... and everything that goes along with being a navy seal... at least that is my theory as a 3rd party that has no skin in the game. i just love psychology.

I think (and I know nothing) those guys that were successful before trying out for SEALS, drop out because it is easy for them to say, "I don't need this shit. I am already a somebody." Whereas they guys like John was describing say, "This is my oppertunity to become somebody, I am not quitting."

He feels like that cool fam you haven’t seen in a long time… like medicine man.

Mr. Ballen and I could have had the same RDC's at Great Lakes. Lol

Super embarrassing and shameful, but on the flip side I’m a recovering addict. I can spot another recovering addict from a mile away. Idk what it is, you can just feel it. I imagine it’s something similar.

God bless

… a swagger 🇺🇸🗽

❤ John B Allen, i just even got more respect him, today i have done some research on him, trying to found out even more, i didn't even know

Goggins and Mr.Ballin on Joe Rogan……boom!!!

My uncle was a green baret in Vietnam, he said they dropped him and a handful of other guys off in the jungle and before they left the chopper they pulled all there dog tags off. He said that was when he realized what he was really getting into

Seal team 6 is called DevGru now...

I didn’t make it through, but when I was in Pararescue training all the guys who made it were not the guys we thought would make it in the beginning. All the big dudes went out first

Hyper vigilance is an asset when you're "working," but when you aren't working or you are retired, it is almost torture for both you and those you are with. It sucks.

It's definitely more than 100 Seal Team Six operators. Their compound is on Dam Neck and it's way too big to be just one hundred guys and support personnel. When I was in the Corps waiting to class up for Intel School on Dam Neck a couple of us got thrown on a working party for several months waiting for class to start and we were thrown on the Rifle Range. It happens to be beside Dev Gru compound. We'd see these guys PTing all the time. This was in '93 and for some reason they all wore flight suits at the time. Guess it was easier than having to deal with squared away Cammie's every day.

lil dude on the left looks like he's just thinking of new vegan recipes and drop shipping courses he wants to sell

The main host is sitting this whole time realizing he couldn’t even do it if he wanted to.

That's what I said is the worst thing ever is sleep deprivation. You eventually lose everything that you are.

If u grow in a dangerous neighborhood were it is violent. U kinda have some of the awareness of military type guys. Where in public u always look for exits and sit with ur back against the wall in restaurants. It comes naturally lol. I can count off the top of my head 9 of my good friends who have been shot of 6 times a piece. And some even more. Not comparing just noticing some similarities. Even ptsd …. I love ballens vids btw

But why "Mr. Ballen" in the title? That won't help you with the algorithm. Title is weighted much more heavily than description. Great interview tho!

For a guy whose known for clickbaity videos hes very humble.

I was in the Army and was deployed in 08 and we ran several missions with what we were told were Seal Team 10 and those fukers were crazy lol.

interesting personality for a seal

Sounds like people are just hating on Mr Ballen

if im not mistaken. isn't delta even worse. their rejection rate is even worse than the seals. I mean you have seals being glorified a lot but iv yet to see delta guys be glorified to that level. so if the secrecy to them is that much, id pretty much say delta is even crazier than seal team 6.

Surprised that Mr. Ballen has a manager.

Sir,I'm 19 year old Sri Lankan, joining US military and Become a special op is dream of my life. Old days as a kid I waited till I waited till i turn 18 but after turning 18 I tried to get help through the process, But because of I'm sri lankan its hard to get, so I tried to get help from foreigner's because nobody here can help me. Please help me I can devote my life for this nothing I love more than becoming a soldier. I tried whole year to get some help but nobody here can do it. Please help me

Ballen is the most humble SEAL in public that Ive seen. 4 million followers and he responds to Dms

A navy seal can pick out another navy seal, like a butcher can pick a butcher cause they walk and throw out the leg that their steel is on,(knife sharpener) they throw the leg so the steel on their hip misses their knee when they walk. Just a habit butchers pick up very fast. Yep,you can pick a butcher by their walk.

Not a hair outta place 🫡

My good buddy growing up, Brendon Toops, made team 6 and was with them for 2 years before someone literally took his spot and he was reassigned to a different team. But he told me before BUDS he tried to prep for the sleep deprivation by getting yoinked on cocaine and doing a 3-4 day bender. He said he did it a couple times to know what it felt like to go without sleep and of course you’d think well you’re on coke so it’s not that miserable lol. But he said during that famous “Hell Week” that almost everyone started to hallucinate. I went the army route and got into jump school right off the bat, I knew what I wanted before I signed up and I’m not gonna say it’s as hard but airborne spec ops is super tough to get through as well. Airborne alone is already difficult

DEVGRU, also known as SEAL Team Six, is a specialized unit within the United States Navy. As of the last reported data, DEVGRU had an authorized size of 1,787 personnel, which includes 1,342 military personnel and 445 civilian personnel​​. Active operators in Assault Squadrons are estimated to 200 - 300. The unit is structured into color-coded line squadrons, each with specific roles: Red Squadron (Assault) Blue Squadron (Assault) Gold Squadron (Assault) Silver Squadron (Assault) Black Squadron (Intelligence, Reconnaissance, & Surveillance) Gray Squadron (Mobility Teams, Transportation/Divers, Quick Reaction Force) Green Team (Selection/Training) Each assault squadron is usually led by a Commander (O-5) and divided into three troops of enlisted SEALs, often called assaulters. These troops are commanded by senior commissioned officers (usually Lieutenant Commanders) and advised by a troop chief (usually a Master Chief Petty Officer). A troop is further divided into smaller teams of SEALs, with each team led by senior enlisted SEALs and filled with personnel of various ranks, each with a specific role. The assault squadrons are supported by various support personnel, including cryptologists, communicators, EOD technicians, dog handlers, and sometimes airmen from the United States Air Force's 24th Special Tactics Squadron​​.

Seals are for show Delta is the alpha and omega

Roll backs get the worse treatment moving forward, from what I understand, the class are separated by original class members and the roll backs , and they get the worse jobs , like jamming hundreds of mags , just shitty jobs . From what I heard .

Hell week changing up now and then don’t expect the same treatment, and sure don’t expect any privileges

"Chicago".. you mean Great lakes

I think SEALS wear flannel shirts at the airport.

Not even a couple hundred if that was the case there would be thousandss of seals

Granted, hes been shun down from the community.....He makes a great living off social media and his stories are bada**

Because you made something its normal way you make it and t hen the ones that don't start bitching

I’m amazed the seals aren’t payed much more than what you speak for dodging bullets. They should make hundred plus. There must be many other benefits

Seal Team “6” is the “b” team when discussing Tier 1 assets. Delta is well above this. There are more than 100 team 6 guys.

I’d take recon or marsoc over any SF force

The banter with the two average everyday kids in a starbucks line killed it for me. Brimming with what they think are life experiences to share. Cringe

The TEAMS have turned into DIVAS, EVERYONE has a story, book or movie. The Teams at one point was sposed to be hush hush, loose lips sink ships, now its everyone is a blabblermouth, blabbering is bountiful.😊

talking guys who fail seals Dan Blizerian lmao

He got kicked out the team because they got in a fire fight he put his wepon down put his knees in his chest covered his ears an was just crying So they got rid of him he's a punk not one seal never acknowledge him

Before 9/11, it was Delta

Australia could get invaded tomorrow and the standard army wouldn't take me cos I was 65kg ....at 18 .....