The Rarest Type Of Soldiers In The World
Chris Williamson talks with a special operations veteran about why elite military operators are so rare, combining high IQ, willingness to use violence, and comfort with moral ambiguity.
The gist
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Only 2.9% of people with 120-129 IQ have engaged in physical violence recently, making the combination of intelligence and combat willingness almost impossible to find.
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Elite operators ignore formalities like dress codes and salutes, accepting only rules that directly help them complete the mission.
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Stacking individual top performers from different units often backfires because team cohesion matters more than individual credentials.
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Effective operators need a clear goal but full freedom over how they reach it, and will find unconventional paths when given that autonomy.
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