Yes there is a certain mysticism about elite soldiers, in fact it is actually impossible to have elite soldiers . . .

Consider when a soldier goes to war it is simply tactics that gives that soldier the greatest chances of remaining uninjured, but also a lot of blind luck becomes involved in protecting soldiers on operational deployments. Put another way you can be a dumb conscript or an elite commando but when your body ends up in front of a bullet or explosion it is " game over ".

This same luck scenario applies to getting physically or psychologically fit ; your expected to push right up to your best, so the law of averages say you are far more likely to be injured out than to gain entry into elite fighting units. The authorities do not care simply because they get more candidates than they need, so they just get to accept the best who have not become irreparably damaged : )

But if you make it you get to do crazy crap no sane person would generally consider doing all the while getting to spend quality time bonding with other misfits are weird as you ; )

[ well not you yourself ] I am referring to extremist military types ! ! !